Public Health Officials in California Confirm Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak at Hospital

While most of the world's attention has been on the worrisome hantavirus outbreak unfolding on a cruise ship, health care officials in California are now dealing with a Legionella outbreak. Here is a look at where the outbreak is happening and why it is concerning to medical experts

Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Confirmed at California Hospital

Officials with Kaiser Permanente confirmed this week that a medical center in Santa Clara, California, has treated over a dozen cases of Legionella. The highly contagious bacterium is best known for being a precursor to pneumonia.

The medical center has treated at least 18 people confirmed to be infected with the disease as of Wednesday, May 6. Hospital officials are working around the clock with local public health officials to determine where the outbreak started. The hospital identified the bacteria through its routine internal monitoring processes.

The health care provider said that it was going to roll out additional steps to try to minimize the ongoing threat to patients and staff. This includes the introduction of new preventative and water treatment measures. Kaiser said that the additional protective measures are being implemented "out of an abundance of caution."

The provider also said that its hospitals and associated medical office buildings are operating normally, working to care for current patients while minimizing the risks to others.

What is Legionnaires' Disease?

In a recent statement regarding the outbreak, Kaiser reminded the public that "Legionella bacteria occur naturally in water and are spread by inhaling contaminated mist, not through person-to-person contact." However, people infected with the bacterium known in medical circles as Legionella pneumophila may go on to develop Legionnaires' disease, a specific type of pneumonia.

The disease can be fatal if left untreated. Lung failure is a common complication of the disease. The infection can also trigger septic shock due to the sudden drop in blood pressure. This forces the heart to work harder after blood flow has been reduced. Some of the most severe cases of Legionnaires' disease also lead to acute kidney failure, causing unsafe levels of waste and fluid to build up throughout the body.

The bacteria can also trigger a flu-like condition known as Pontiac fever. This condition is typically less severe than Legionnaires' disease as it does not impact the lungs. Pontiac fever typically clears on its own in less than a week.

According to the Mayo Clinic, older individuals and immunocompromised patients are the most at risk of developing Legionnaires' disease. The fatality rate is also higher among these groups. Legionnaires' disease can present significant problems in hospitals and nursing homes, places where germs spread easily and people are naturally at a higher risk of complications.

Smokers are also at an inherently higher risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease. This is because smoking damages the lungs, making them more vulnerable to the adverse effects of infections.

The bacteria spread through minuscule water droplets infected with Legionella. Prior outbreaks have been connected to hot water tanks, swimming pools, hot tubs, and other public water sources. In addition to becoming infected after breathing in water droplets, the bacteria can enter the lungs via water by accident. For instance, choking while drinking water can lead to the spread through aspiration.

There have also been a few documented cases of patients becoming infected with Legionnaires' disease after using potting soil with the bacteria or from working in the garden. These cases are rarer.

Most patients develop the disease within two to 10 days after initial exposure to the bacteria. The most commonly observed symptoms include headaches, fever, coughing, general muscle aches, chest pains, nausea, and shortness of breath. Anyone who believes they may have been infected by the bacteria should contact their personal physician for guidance. The elderly and immunocompromised people should seek treatment immediately.

It is important to note that most people who are exposed to Legionnaires' disease do not get sick. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, meaning that early detection is key.

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