Second Patient Dies from Bacteria in NJ Hospital Water System
A second individual has passed away at a hospital in North Jersey due to an infection caused by a harmful bacteria found in the facility’s water system.
The unnamed patient tested positive for Legionella, a type of bacteria linked to a severe form of pneumonia, after receiving treatment at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson.
In mid-December, the hospital issued alerts to patients and visitors following an inspection by the state Department of Health, which confirmed the bacteria’s presence in the water system.
According to Pamela Garretson, a spokesperson for the hospital, the patient had “significant underlying health challenges” before becoming infected with Legionella. She expressed condolences, stating, “Our thoughts remain with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.”
A different unidentified patient, who also had multiple underlying health conditions, died in July after testing positive for the bacteria, as reported by St. Joseph’s Health, the hospital’s parent organization.
The state notified St. Joseph’s about the positive test results on December 8, leading the hospital to initiate cleaning and treatment of its water system.
The health system is reaching out to 228 former patients who were treated in the impacted area between November 27 and December 8 to inform them of potential infection risks.
Garretson noted that no additional patients are being investigated for Legionella at this time.
Recent water test results confirmed that the hospital’s water system is now considered safe for drinking. Garretson mentioned that the hospital will keep monitoring the water system regularly to maintain a secure environment for patients and their families, collaborating with local and state health officials.
She indicated that the hospital staff took proactive measures, including hiring an environmental water consultant, enhancing safety protocols, conducting thorough testing in partnership with the state, and starting remediation efforts.
The staff went beyond state requirements, sanitizing the entire campus to ensure cleanliness, Garretson added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by the Legionella bacteria, with symptoms that may include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle aches, and headaches.
Symptoms can appear within 14 days post-exposure, but sometimes it can take longer. While many healthy individuals exposed to the bacteria may not become ill, those with existing health conditions are at greater risk.
Individuals over 50, especially smokers or those with compromised immune systems, are more susceptible to developing the disease.
Each year, approximately 250 to 350 cases of Legionnaires’ disease are reported across New Jersey, according to the state Department of Health. Last year, 224 cases were recorded in the state.
