Water Tanks at a Pittsburgh Hospital Tested Positive for Legionella Bacteria

An unscheduled evaluation in the Allegheny General Hospital revealed that two water tanks of the hospital were tested positive for Legionella bacteria, which is known to cause the deadly Legionnaires' disease.

According to the report from CBS Pittsburg, the evaluation was done after a cancer patient was tested positive for the bacteria. The said patient was admitted in the hospital for treatment. However, officials believe that patient did not acquire the infection in the hospital.

No other patients were reported to acquire the bacteria. But, as a safety precaution, the hospital started providing their patients with bottled water.

"We take extra precautions because when patients are ill they can be more susceptible to the legionella infection," said Dr. Sam Reynolds, the chief quality officer for the Allegheny Health Network, in an interview with Pittsburg Action News 4. "We are asking patients to use bottled water and certain patients to avoid showering in our facility."

The contaminated tanks supply water to floors four through twelve. The hospital's operating rooms and cafeteria are below the affected floors and are not affected.

Officials at the hospital said they already treated the affected water tanks and will be testing it once again to make sure that it is clear of the bacteria. The result of the test will be available about a week.

Legionella bacteria is named after a 1976 outbreak when some people attending a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion suffered from a new type of pneumonia, which was later on dubbed as Legionnaires' disease.

The bacteria can be usually found naturally in fresh water environments, like lakes and streams, but can become a health concern in human-made water systems. It can be acquire through inhaling contaminated vapors.

According to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5,000 cases of Legionnaires' Disease are being reported in the United States every year, with one of ten infections resulting to death.