The C.W Bill Young VA Medical Center has confirmed that a pneumonia patient who died there last month tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s Disease.

The patient was staying in building 100, the main hub of the hospital. Building 100 is 186-bed facility which houses acute care and outpatient care.

As for the patient’s Feb. 20 cause of death, the hospital spokesperson says, "We can confirm the patient died due to medical complications," said Jason Dangel, Public Affairs Officer with Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.

'Following confirmation of the case, and out an abundance of caution, we restricted the use of showers in building 100 and also completed water testing. We are currently waiting for testing results," said Dangel.

The CDC says Legionnaire’s is contracted by breathing in a mist or a vapor. That’s why showering in building 100 has been restricted since Feb. 27. Dangel says that restriction will stay in place until test results are back. Those results are expected Monday.

"Alternative methods maintaining hygiene are being utilized such as bed baths, or sponge baths. This is a common beside hygiene method used in acute care settings," said Dangel.

Facts about Legionella Bacteria from Bay Pines VA Healthcare System

What is Legionella?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Legionnaires' disease (LEE-juh-nares) is caused
by a type of bacteria called Legionella pneumophila. The Legionella bacteria are found naturally in
the environment, usually in water. The bacteria grows best in warm standing water, like the kind found in hot tubs, water storage tanks, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, and decorative fountains.

What is its Nature?
Up to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease each year in the United States.
Legionella bacteria are not transmitted from one person to another person.
Almost all people with Legionnaires' disease will have pneumonia (lung infection) as the Legionella bacteria grow and thrive in the lungs. According to the CDC, Legionnaires' disease can have symptoms like many other forms of pneumonia, so it can be hard to diagnose at first.

Signs and symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease can include cough, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle aches, and headaches. These symptoms usually begin 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the bacteria. Some mild infections caused by Legionella bacteria do not progress to pneumonia and generally resolve after a few days without treatment. Legionnaires' disease requires treatment with antibiotics. Healthy people usually get better after being sick with Legionnaires' disease, but hospitalization is often required.

How is it transferred?
According to the CDC, most people contract Legionnaires' disease when breathing in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) containing the bacteria. Most people who are exposed to the bacteria never become ill.

Who is Susceptible?
According to the CDC, the people most at risk of getting sick from infection with Legionella bacteria are:

  • 50 years of age or older
  • Current or former smokers
  • Those who have a chronic lung disease (like emphysema)
  • People who have weak immune systems from diseases like cancer, diabetes, or kidney failure
  • People who take drugs to suppress (weaken) the immune system (such as following an organ transplant or chemotherapy)

Our Policy vs. other Health Care Facilities
Although most other facilities do not regularly test their water for the presence of the Legionella bacteria, the Veterans Health Administration does. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), for example, states that in potable water a level of 10 colonies per milliliter as acceptable; the VA only accepts a level of zero. We have been testing the water at our healthcare facilities for the presence of the bacteria, and we have also been testing patients diagnosed with pneumonia to see if it was caused by Legionella bacteria; we will continue checking in this way as part of our normal business.

Our Screening Process
The CDC defines a confirmed case of Legionnaires' disease as a clinically compatible illness that is confirmed by a laboratory test showing presence of the Legionella bacteria in the infected patient. A confirmed case requires a physician's diagnosis of pneumonia based on a chest x-ray. A special test for Legionella is necessary for confirmation because the symptoms and x-ray evidence of Legionnaires' disease resemble those of other types of pneumonia, and because most pneumonias are not caused by Legionella infection. Legionnaires' disease treatment requires the use of antibiotics. Early treatment reduces the severity of symptoms and improves chances for recovery.