Florida Hospital flushes system after Legionella found in water

ORLANDO, Fla. — Experts are flushing the water at Florida Hospital Orlando, where a potentially deadly bacteria was found.
 
Last week, water samples at the hospital's Ginsburg Tower tested positive for Legionella bacteria after a critically ill patient had tested positive for Legionella in late November.
 
Legionella is a bacterium that causes pneumonia, but the strain the hospital's water tested positive for was different from that of the patient.
 
"We know there was not a link between the environmental water sample and the patient sample," Vincent Hsu, an infection control officer, said.
 
Hsu said there haven't been any cases of people getting the bacteria from the hospital.
 
According to Hsu, the water at the hospital is safe to drink, because people can only get the bacteria by inhaling the water's mists and vapors.
 
"Legionella was found in a certain part of one of the builds at Florida hospital, so yes, that is a matter of concern, but it's not unusual nor is it unique," Bill McCoy, an employee of the water management company called in to flush the system, said.
 
McCoy and his company are flushing the water in the hospital's system using fresh chlorinated water. He said the bacteria occurs naturally and is common in many facilities.
 
McCoy couldn't say how long flushing the system will take, but tests are coming back negative for the bacteria.
 
Florida Hospital said it's developing a water management program to make sure the water quality at their facilities remains high.