Four patients with Legionnaires’ disease, one of whom died, were recently treated at the hospital. Two of the cases may have been acquired at the hospital, the department said.
The health department has not found more cases of Legionnaires’ disease at Queen’s since the first cases were confirmed in mid-June, a department spokesperson told the Star-Advertiser.
The hospital replaced all shower heads in patient care areas, installed point-of-use filters in showers and faucets in high-risk patient areas, replaced or removed all laminar flow devices in patient care areas and increased water chlorination.
“Queen’s continues to work closely with the department of Health and CDC to identify the source of Legionella exposure within and outside of the hospital,” said Leslie Chun, MD, Queen’s CMO and chief quality officer.
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Patients in private rooms less likely to get fatal hospital infection, study
CDC hosts infectious disease experts to discuss HAIs, Ebola
Paper-based test can effectively identify ‘falsified’ antibiotics
