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Patient dies as UW Medical Center; Legionnaires' disease cases under investigation

Transmission electron microscopy image of L. pneumophila, responsible for over 90% of Legionnaires' disease cases.

One of two patients died from a potentially serious type on pneumonia while in treatment at University of Washington Medical Center’s cardiac units.

King County Public Health officials said Thursday they were investigating Legionnaires' disease to protect patient and staff safety, and to assure that patients with pneumonia get appropriate laboratory testing.

Public Health released this timeline of events on its blog:

  • August 26, 2016: First patient reported. Patient’s history suggested that exposure to Legionella might have been at the hospital or in the community before the patient’s hospital stay.
  • September 6, 2016: This patient was at UWMC during “the entire exposure period.

One of the patients was discharged; the other died in the hospital, officials announced Friday.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by breathing in small droplets of water that contain Legionella, a bacteria found naturally in freshwater environments.

Public Health believes Legionella was a contributing factor in the patient’s death.

Public Health says it’s in an early phase of the investigation, but no evidence points to public risk. They are working with an environmental assessment specialist to investigate the source of Legionella bacteria.

UWMC released the following statement: 

"We reported a death to Public Health Seattle King County as we are required  to do by  law and we are fully cooperating with Public Health's ongoing investigation. We continue our internal investigation to identify the source of the infection and are taking steps to protect the health and safety of our patients."

Cox Media Group

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