Legionella is most deadly in the elderly

Grandmother Norma Bigi, 84, the latest victim of the illness, died after tests revealed the bacteria came from water from a fountain in Bresso, a town near Milan.

Those taken ill from the disease found themselves suffering its classic symptoms in the past 12-13 days and have all been admitted to hospital while authorities make attempts to control the outbreak.

Simone Cairo, mayor of Bresso, said: “The situation is under control, all the authorities that had to take action have been activated.

“This morning, the mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala called me to give us support, let's see how he can help us.”

He went on to say most of the patients battling the condition have been discharged from hospital. </s> Authorities have issued health alert after 150 cases of pneumonia were recorded in a week, mainly in towns near the northern Italian city of Brescia.

Suspecting the presence of a pneumonia-causing virus in the water supply, they have taken samples from the distribution network for analysis. Results are expected in several days.

Autopsies will be conducted on a 69-year-old woman and an 85-year-old man who died this week to determine whether they died from pneumonia, according to local media reports.

Pneumonia is usually caused when bacteria, viruses or fungi infect the lungs. It can be life-threatening, especially among the elderly and those with serious health conditions.

Provincial health services have called on residents to take precautions, including disinfecting tap filters and shower hoses and to let hot water run for a period of time with the windows open before using it.

Hospital emergencies in several municipalities to the south and east of Brescia identified 121 cases of pneumonia, the health officer in the Lombardy region Giulio Galera said on television.

A survey of general practitioners found at least 30 other people had been affected. </s> MONDAY, June 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) A patient died Sunday during an outbreak of Legionnaires disease, a severe type of pneumonia, at Grove City, Mount Carmel Health System, the Associated Press reported.

Dr. Richard Streck, the hospital's chief clinical operations officer told the AP that it's too soon to know exactly what the patient died from.

The first patient to come down with Legionnaires had been admitted to the hospital April 29, the day after the facility opened.

Legionnaires is caused by the Legionella bacteria, which can grow in water in building cooling systems. It's spread as people inhale contaminated water droplets, according to the CDC.

Those most at risk are people with weakened immune systems or chronic lung disease, the agency says.

The hospital is working with county health personnel to determine the cause of the Legionnaires outbreak.

The Ohio Department of Health ordered the hospital to test its ice making machines and clean them. It's also been ordered to test and clean the building's cooling towers and give the test results to the department.

Mount Carmel has been under investigation since a doctor was caught overprescribing pain medicine to 29 patients who died in their other hospitals, the AP notes. </s> A patient died Sunday after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the new Mount Carmel Grove City hospital.

“My entire team and I are deeply saddened by the death announced tonight by Mount Carmel Grove City, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family," Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said in a news release.

"We share concern for all impacted by this outbreak. The Ohio Department of Health continues to work closely with Franklin County Public Health and the Mount Carmel Health System as we work to ensure patient safety."

Seven patients have been diagnosed with the disease. The patient in the first case stayed at the new $361 million hospital from April 29 through May 7, and five other patients who contracted the disease stayed during the period from May 8 through May 20. The seventh case was identified late Friday.

The hospital has not identified the patient who died.

"Out of respect for the family's privacy and in keeping with patient privacy laws, we are not discussing the specifics and complexities of patient information," said Dr. Richard Streck, chief clinical operations officer for the Mount Carmel Health System, in a news release. "We can say that it's too early to determine the final cause of death. For most people, the risk of developing Legionnaires' disease is low; however, individuals with chronic, underlying medical conditions are at increased risk."

Streck said the hospital is "working with county and state health officials to identify the source of the bacteria. We’ve taken several steps to protect our patients, staff and visitors, including implementing extensive water restrictions. We are running additional tests on water sources throughout Mount Carmel Grove City, and our entire water supply is undergoing supplemental disinfection. We're confident that we can safely maintain full services of the hospital."

Streck advised anyone who has been hospitalized and developed cough, muscle aches, headaches, fever or shortness of breath,to contact their primary care physician.

Legionnaires’ disease kills about 10% of those diagnosed in the general population, but that rate can rise to 1 in 4 people when the outbreak is at a nursing home or hospital.

Legionella bacteria can be found naturally in water but can become a health concern when they spread into building water systems and places such as shower stalls, faucets and drinking fountains.

Outbreaks most commonly occur in buildings with “complex water systems,” including hotels, hospitals and cruise ships, where bacteria can spread in cooling towers, hot water tanks and plumbing systems, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. </s> GROVE CITY, Ohio — A patient has died amid an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in a recently opened hospital, authorities said.

The patient who died Sunday was among the seven who had been diagnosed with the disease after being hospitalized at Mount Carmel Grove City, Mount Carmel Health System said. It's too early, however, to determine the final cause of death, said Dr. Richard Streck, chief clinical operations officer for the system.

The hospital is working with state and county health officials to identify the source of the bacteria, Streck said. It is running tests, implementing water restrictions and doing supplemental disinfection of the water supply, he said.

Patients who develop a cough, muscle aches, headaches, fever or shortness of breath after being hospitalized should contact their primary doctor, Streck said.

The first Mount Carmel Grove City patient diagnosed with Legionnaires', a severe form of pneumonia, was admitted to the 200-bed hospital April 29, the day after it opened, the Ohio Department of Health said in a statement Friday. The department ordered the hospital to test and clean its ice machines, clean and service its on-site cooling towers, and provide all test results and a water management plan to the Health Department.

People are infected with Legionnaires' by inhaling airborne water droplets containing the Legionella bacterium, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cooling towers containing water and a fan as part of a centralized cooling system are a potential source for Legionella, the CDC says.

While most healthy people are unaffected, those over 50, smokers and others with weakened immune systems and chronic lung disease are most at risk of being infected, the CDC says.

The Mount Carmel system has been under intense scrutiny after discovering that a doctor had prescribed excessive doses of painkillers to 29 patients who died at its other hospitals. </s> GROVE CITY, Ohio (AP) — Health officials in Ohio say 10 people now have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease amid an outbreak at a recently opened hospital near Columbus.

Franklin County's health department says that's up from seven who have been hospitalized, including one patient who died Sunday.

Mount Carmel Health System says the hospital is working with state and county health officials to identify the source of the bacteria at Mount Carmel Grove City.

State health officials say the first patient diagnosed with Legionnaires' was admitted to the hospital on April 29, the day after it opened.

People are infected with the severe form of pneumonia by inhaling airborne water droplets containing the Legionella bacterium. </s> GROVE CITY, Ohio — Health officials in Ohio say 10 people have now been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease amid an outbreak at a recently opened hospital near Columbus.

Franklin County's health department said Tuesday that's up from seven. One of those patients died Sunday.

Mount Carmel Health System says the hospital is working with health officials to identify the source of the bacteria at Mount Carmel Grove City.

State health officials say the first patient diagnosed with Legionnaires' was admitted to the hospital on April 29, the day after it opened.

People are infected with the severe form of pneumonia by inhaling airborne water droplets containing the Legionella bacterium.

The Mount Carmel system has been under scrutiny after discovering that a doctor had prescribed excessive doses of painkillers to patients who died at its other hospitals. </s> - Ohio's health authority on Friday ordered a newly opened hospital outside Columbus to immediately flush and disinfect its water lines and take other steps to protect the public's health after seven patients were diagnosed with potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease.

One of those patients has since died. Officials said it's too soon to confirm the final cause of death. The identity of the victim has not been released, due to privacy laws.

The Ohio Department of Health said in a statement that the first Mount Carmel Grove City patient diagnosed with Legionnaires', a severe form of pneumonia, was admitted to the 200-bed hospital April 29, the day after it opened. The statement described state Health Director Amy Acton's adjudication order as a rare event.

The hospital also has been ordered to test and clean its ice machines, clean and service its on-site cooling towers, and provide all test results and a water management plan to the Health Department.

"They've stopped all water flow, It's being chlorinated as we speak, there is no ice in the hospital, there's bottled water everywhere, and there are detailed interventions going on to protect people," said Acton.

If Mount Carmel fails to follow Acton's directives, she will order the hospital to stop accepting patients, the statement said.

State and Franklin County health officials were conducting an environmental assessment at Mount Carmel on Saturday morning.

Mount Carmel spokeswoman Samantha Irons said in a statement late Friday that the hospital is running additional tests on its water sources and that its water supply is receiving "supplemental" disinfection. She said hospital officials are confident Mount Carmel can maintain full services "while we study this situation."

The Mount Carmel statement said anyone who has been hospitalized at the facility and develops a cough, muscle aches, headaches or shortness of breath should contact their primary care physician.

The Centers for Disease Control and Infection website says people are infected with Legionnaires' by inhaling airborne water droplets containing the Legionella bacteria. Cooling towers containing water and a fan as part of a centralized cooling system are a potential source for Legionella, the CDC says.

While most healthy people are unaffected, those over 50, smokers and others with weakened immune systems and chronic lung disease are most at risk of being infected, the CDC says.

The Mount Carmel system has been under intense scrutiny after discovering that a doctor had prescribed excessive doses of painkillers to 29 patients who died at its other hospitals.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Grove City, Ohio – Ohio’s health authority has ordered a newly opened hospital where seven patients have been diagnosed with potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease to immediately flush and disinfect its water lines and take other steps to protect the public’s health.

Department of Health Director Amy Acton in a statement said the cluster of cases at Mount Carmel Grove City outside Columbus was identified Friday. The first patient diagnosed with Legionnaires’, a severe form of pneumonia, was admitted April 29, a day after the hospital opened.

A Mount Carmel spokeswoman says hospital officials are confident that full services can be maintained “while we study this situation.”

The Mount Carmel system has been under scrutiny after discovering that a doctor had prescribed excessive doses of painkillers to 29 patients who died at its other hospitals.
A Legionella outbreak in Bresso, Italy, kills three people while 17 others are hospitalized.