CNN
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A Seattle medical center reports 31 confirmed cases of a bacterial infection since October, according to a Press release from Virginia Mason Medical Center. The most recent confirmed case was identified on April 3.
“As of October 2022, Virginia Mason Medical Center has detected an increase in cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria on our downtown campus,” Sydney Bersante, interim president of Virginia Mason Medical Center, said in the statement. “We immediately implemented increased safety measures, notified patients who had tested positive for the bacteria, and promptly provided treatment when necessary.”
Bersante added that while the “risk of transmission is extremely low for patients,” the medical center is investigating the source of transmission and taking precautions to prevent additional cases.
Klebsiella is a type of bacteria that lives in the intestines and can cause illnesses in healthcare settings such as pneumonia and meningitis, as well as bloodstream, wound or surgical site infections, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..
“In healthcare settings, Klebsiella infections commonly occur among sick patients receiving treatment for another condition,” the CDC said.
Patients in a healthcare setting can be exposed to Klebsiella bacteria through person-to-person contact or through ventilators or intravenous catheters, according to the CDC.
The Seattle and King County public health department is “working closely” with the medical center to control the outbreak.
“These types of outbreaks are complex, and despite thorough investigation, we may never know the source,” said Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable disease epidemiology and immunization for Public Health Seattle and King County. , in the hospital press release. .
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