53-year-old New Zealand resident, Susan Dromgool, slipped into a two-week coma after contracting Legionnaires’ disease in December 2016. She had been using potting soil to plant succulents and believed she had taken the appropriate safety measures since she wore gloves and used the potting mix in a well-ventilated area. However, the evening after planting the succulents, she began to experience chills and her symptoms progressively got worse. She was admitted to the hospital and put in an induced coma. She woke up approximately two weeks later with no memory of the events surrounding her illness. Ms. Dromgool gradually recovered and…
Health officials in Fresno County, Calif. reported earlier this week that a patient at a nursing home died due to Legionnaires’ disease. Additional details about the patient and date of death were not released; however, the health department has been investigating the NorthPointe Health Centre since January 23, 2017. According to health officials, no other cases of Legionnaires’ disease were identified at this nursing home. A different nursing home, Horizon Health & Subacute Center in northeast Fresno, however, also experienced a Legionella scare in January when the bacteria were found at the facility. A resident was diagnosed with a respiratory illness, but the…
Legionella bacteria were discovered at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health System in January during routine testing. The hospital imposed water restrictions at the facility to prevent infection after the bacteria were discovered in multiple sinks. Testing occurred from Jan. 6 to Jan. 27 during which nine sinks and two supply lines tested positive for Legionella, bacteria known to cause a more virulent form of pneumonia. Water restrictions were put in place on Jan. 28 and will last 14 days. There have been no reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease associated with the VA Pittsburgh as a result of this recent testing.…