Legionnaires' Confirmed at Rochester General Hospital

Rochester General Hospital (New York) confirmed a case of Legionnaires' disease at the hospital. The female patient who tested positive for the bacteria has since been released from the hospital, is responding well to treatment, and recuperating at home. The woman was admitted to Rochester General in January for an unrelated condition and developed pneumonia seven days later.

On February 22, the pneumonia tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Because the incubation period for Legionnaires' disease is two to 10 days, the woman could have contracted the disease from the hospital's water system. While cleaning and testing of RGH's water system is routine, the hospital currently has infectious disease experts testing all areas of the water system to determine the source of the bacteria. The team is working closely with the NYS Department of Health in the testing process.

If Legionella bacteria is found in the water system, it would be the first time the bacteria has been found in 18 years at Rochester General Hospital. All patients at Rochester General Hospital are currently using bottle water for all activities and disposable bathing kits have been provided to patients. The use of bottled water will continue indefinitely until testing with the NYS Health Department determined the source of the bacteria. All water fountains have been turned off because ingestion of the water could cause infection. Engineers are also working to determine a game plan to clean the water system at RGH to eliminate any possibility of Legionella bacteria.

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