GROVE CITY – An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at Mount Carmel Grove City has been blamed on inadequate disinfection in the newly opened hospital’s hot water system.
The health department said at least 16 patients admitted to the 210-bed hospital after its opening April 28 have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’, a severe form of pneumonia that’s caused by inhaling tiny water droplets containing the legionella bacteria. One of the patients, a 75-year-old woman, died.
Hospital president Sean McKibben said in a statement Thursday that the disease outbreak happened because of inadequate disinfection of the hot water system prior to the hospital’s opening.
“Tests received this week from water samples taken May 23 through June 1 showed significant legionella bacteria were in our hot water system at that time. We believe the bacteria are linked to inadequate disinfection prior to Mount Carmel Grove City’s opening,” McKibben wrote.
He said a permanent supplemental disinfection system with constant monitoring and controls has been installed.
The hospital also disinfected and cleaned its cooling tower upgraded a disinfection controller.