Traces of bacteria that cause legionnaire's disease found in water at St. Luke's Home
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - Small traces of the bacteria known as legionella, the cause of legionnaire's disease, have been found in a limited number of areas of St. Luke's Home following tests and treatments of the water system.
According to officials at St. Luke's Home, the facility, in cooperation with Legionella Consultants, Inc., a nationally-recognized consultant, and the New York State Department of Health, conducts test and treatments of the water systems on a regular basis. St. Luke's Home has been working with Legionella Consultants, Inc. since July 2009. Recent tests, in a limited number of areas of the Home, have been positive for very small traces of legionella, facility officials said in a press release. The release states that working with representatives of the State Department of Health, it was decided to limit the use of water at the facility as of Friday, January 14, 2011 as a precautionary measure. "These measures help to ensure the safety and appropriate care of the residents, employees and community visitors," the statement reads. The nursing home is installing filtration systems, a majority of which are expected to be in place by Tuesday, January 18, 2011. The filters are used by health care systems throughout the country, St. Luke's Home officials noted. Legionella, the cause of legionnaire's disease, is a bacteria that exists naturally in water and moist soil and has been found in creeks and ponds, water systems, cooling towers and soil at excavation sites. Legionella bacteria are not spread from person to person and most people exposed to the bacteria do not become ill. People most at risk for the infection are those with weakened immune systems or chronic lung and heart disease. It is believed that patients are most commonly infected after drinking contaminated water, although aerosolized water is considered a less common source of infection. Most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics, officials with St. Luke's Home said. |
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