Sampling continues; no further bacteria signs found

No further signs of Legionella bacteria at Shands Cancer Hospital at the University of Florida have been found in additional testing of water and patient samples, Shands HealthCare and UF officials announced today.

Seventy patients have been tested for Legionella and none have shown any signs of infection, a good indication that widespread disease is not present.

UF and Shands HealthCare Infection control experts are following CDC guidelines for culturing and testing water samples from Shands Cancer Hospital after a single patient tested positive for Legionella bacteria earlier this month.

The culture sites were chosen based on epidemiological data and the analysis of the strategic points of the water system to help identify the source of the bacteria. Water samples were taken for testing before the hospital's water system underwent heat and chlorination treatment. Final pre-treatment results are not yet available but are expected on or around Thursday, Dec. 17.

Water samples also were taken on Friday, Dec. 11 after the water system was treated. Final post-treatment results are expected on or around Monday, Dec. 21.

Officials continue to emphasize that safe healthcare is the top priority at the hospital.

According to the CDC, the Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment. The bacteria grow best in warm water, like the kind found in hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems or parts of the air-conditioning systems of large buildings.

As many as 18,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized with Legionella infections each year, according to the CDC. People can be infected when they breathe in a mist or vapor that has been contaminated with the bacteria. The bacteria are not spread from one person to another person.