Atlanta VA patient who died tested positive for Legionella
WSB-TV • • health
Key Points:
- A veteran patient at the Atlanta VA Health Care System tested positive for Legionella bacteria and subsequently died; the patient was immunocompromised and showed pneumonia symptoms.
- Environmental testing included the patient’s room and a nearby ice machine, with routine water system tests on the seventh floor showing no Legionella presence in the past two years.
- Other patients on the affected floor were relocated, and the area underwent cleaning and disinfection; currently, no active Legionella cases are reported at the facility.
- The Atlanta VA is consulting with the National Infectious Disease Surveillance Program and the National Director of Healthcare Engineering for further guidance.
