Latest Legionella case not linked to Strong  

6/13/06
 
Officials at Strong Hospital say their most recent patient being treated for Legionnaires’ disease, did not get the Legionella bacteria from the hospital.  It’s the sixth case treated at the hospital this year.

Strong Hospital has been working with the New York State Health Department to run tests on the hospital’s water system.  They think the first four cases of Legionnaire’s disease this year came from the hospital water supply.  All four cases were from the same strain of Legionella.

However, new test results from the state, show both the fifth and sixth cases are different strains than the first four.  NYS Health Department officials say that supports what Strong officials are saying, that these last two patients did not contract Legionella at Strong Hospital and that the patients likely contracted it before hand.

These lateset test results are from ten water samples and four faucent swabs taken June 1st, and then processed in the State Health Department lab in Albany.

No Legionella has grown from any of these samples.

“These most recent results reaffirm our conclusion that the steps we’ve taken have been effective, that the water no longer presents a risk here.  We’re continuing for the moment using bottled water with our most at risk populations, but I think that will be suspended in the near future,” said Dr. Paul Graman, Strong Hospital Epidemiologist. 

Hospital officials say the most recent patient is in guarded condition and has responded to antibiotics.  Officials do not know how the patient contracted Legionella.
 
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