According to the Balitmore Sun, St. Joseph Hospital patients and employees have been told not to take showers or tub baths, drink tap water or out of fountains and to use waterless soup or sanitizers to wash their hands instead of water. Employees are also using saline or sterile water to flush tubes and rinse equipment.

In January 2009, Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore discovered low levels of Legionella bacteria in a shower area during routine testing of the hospital’s water supply, which was the second time in the last two years that the bacteria has been found at the Maryland hospital.

A similar issue occurred earlier this year at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, where four patients developed Legionnaires’ disease since January 1, 2009. Last week, the hospital reopened the affected areas after installing a new system that injects chlorine gas into water at the point of entry into the hospital, thus killing bacteria and other contaminants. In addition, about 1,300 filters are being used throughout the hospital on shower heads and water faucets to screen out Legionella bacteria.

Legionnaire’s disease is contracted when infected water gets into the air and is inhaled by an individual. It is a potentially deadly form of pneumonia and the bacteria causing it thrive in warm, moist environments.
 
The greatest risk of the bacteria is to people with compromised immune systems. The common symptoms are chills, fever, and a dry cough. Muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite, and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea, may also occur. It is often difficult to distinguish other types of pneumonia from Legionnaires’ disease.

If you, a friend or family member have developed Legionnaire’s disease after receiving treatment at St. Joseph’s Hospital or Maryland General Hospital, request a free consultation with our Maryland injury lawyers.

Each year in the United States, there are approximately 600 reports of surgical fires, and about 20 to 30 of these incidents result in severe injury or death for the patient. However, many of these events are never reported, and few medical facilities have the necessary training or safety precautions in place to reduce the risk of the operating room fires.

In recent decades, the occurrence of surgical fires has increased in part due to modern electrosurgical tool sand devices, paper or synthetic drapes replacing cloth drapes and the use of pure oxygen administered to patients during surgery

Watch the WBALTV Video:
Surgical Fires Not Often Talked About

The WBAL Channel 11 News story highlighted the story of Maryland resident Catherine Lake, whose mother suffered second and third degree burns as a result of a surgical fire during a 2002 operation, which ultimately led to her death two years after the accident.

Lake has created www.surgicalfires.org in an effort to provide people with information about surgical fires and how they can be prevented.

In many states operating room fires do not have to be reported and few regulations are in place to reduce the occurrence of these events. Many are calling for nationwide reporting requirements, increased education and training for hospital staff about fire prevention and preparation, as well as better communication between surgeons and anesthesiologists during operations.

Although Maryland surgical fires are supposed to be reported, WBAL TV reports that under reported.