Samples taken from the water system at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York tested positive for low levels of Legionella on May 8, 2017. The Legionella was found in the Pratt building, which is the oldest part of the hospital. It is believed that the infrequently used faucets, old pipes, and recent construction in this part of the facility may be the cause of the contaminated water. Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle has stated that the facility has since replaced the valves and begun to flush the water lines daily. Legionella bacteria can cause respiratory illnesses such as Legionellosis and Legionnaires’ disease, a bacterial type of pneumonia. No cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported to be associated with the facility since the discovery of the bacteria, and the water was retested on Monday, May 15, 2017, to determine if the remediation measures taken by the facility have since resolved the issue. More information is available here.
Legionella Found at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York was last modified: May 17th, 2017 by
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