Witham Hospital in Lebanon taking safety steps after water found to have Legionella antigen
Sep. 20—A Witham Hospital patient tested positive for the Legionella antigen in August, the hospital announced in a prepared statement Friday afternoon.
Legionella is the bacteria that can cause Legionnaires' disease, a serious type of pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But not all Legionella causes Legionnaires' disease, Boone County Health Officer Dr. Herschell Servies said Friday.
Legionella is divided into three groups, and only group 1 causes the often deadly Legionnaires' disease, he said.
A positive Legionella antigen test means the patient "has, or has had, an infection at some point," and only one Witham patient in the extended care unit was found to have the infection, according to the hospital's statement.
It is unclear where the patient came into contact with Legionella, or which group of Legionella the patient had, as the antigen test does not provide that information, Servies said.
But in response to the positive test, Witham increased water testing protocols, and got "low-level" positive tests for Legionella, Gene Davis, director of infection control, said Friday, adding, "We have not had any positive tests for serogroup 1."
Servies said the hospital's water tested positive only for groups of Legionella that do not cause Legionnaires' disease.
"Those groups can still cause disease in humans, but not the Legionnaires' pneumonia, which is what kills people," Servies said. "Just because it isn't group one doesn't mean you can ignore it."
Witham is taking extra safety precautions regarding water, including using bottled water for patient care, staff, and guests.
"Point-of-use filters have been added to ice machines, and additional water filters have been installed in showers and sinks," the hospital statement reads.
"We have an extensive water management plan in place and will continue to adhere to advanced safety protocols and guidelines in coordination with the Boone County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Health," Witham President and CEO Kelly Braverman said via the statement. "The hospital, including the Extended Care Unit, is continuing with normal operations with no interruption to patient care. I am incredibly proud of our team. They are responding with the utmost care for our patients."
Servies added, "Out of an abundance of caution, the hospital is going through the right steps, and the right steps to treat this are very expensive. They're doing all of this at the suggestion of the CDC and the state department of health.
"They're going all out. There were cheaper ways to go about it, but the hospital chose not to do that because the other ways are not as good of a treatment. What they're doing is top-of-the-line."
Davis said, "The safety of our patients and staff is our highest priority right now, so that's what we're going to do."
Legionella bacteria are found in freshwater and in buildings' water systems, according to the CDC. Most healthy people exposed to the bacteria don't get sick. But certain populations are at a greater risk, including smokers or former smokers, people ages 50 and older with underlying illnesses such as diabetes, kidney failure, or liver failure, Witham's statement said.
It usually takes two to 14 days after being exposed to Legionella bacteria to develop Legionnaires' disease symptoms, although it make take longer, according to the CDC, which lists common symptoms as possible: cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include confusion, diarrhea or nausea. The Mayo Clinic claims symptoms may occur in as few as two to 10 days.
"Although prompt treatment with antibiotics usually cures Legionnaires' disease, some people continue to have problems after treatment," according to the Mayo Clinic. "See your doctor if you think you've been exposed to Legionella bacteria. Diagnosing and testing Legionnaires' disease as soon as possible can help shorten the recovery period and prevent serious complications."
Prompt treatment is especially critical for people at high risk, such as smokers or older adults, according to Mayo.
Witham Health Services serves Boone and surrounding communities with offices in Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Jamestown, Lebanon, Thorntown, Whitestown and Zionsville.
