Legionnaires’ disease found in N.J. hospital water system after patient death

A New Jersey hospital is warning hundreds of patients to be on the lookout for symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease after a patient death led to the discovery of the potentially deadly bacteria in the facility’s water system.

The patient, whose identity was not released, was treated in July at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson for multiple medical conditions. The patient also tested positive for Legionella, a type of bacteria that can cause a serious form of pneumonia, according to a statement from St. Joseph’s Health, which owns the hospital.

“We have been working closely with state and local health officials after a patient was treated for multiple medical conditions and also tested positive for Legionella,” Dr. Joseph Duffy, chief medical officer of St. Joseph’s, said in a statement on Friday.

“Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of this individual’s medical condition, the patient succumbed to the illnesses,” Duffy said.

Legionnaires’ disease isn’t contagious or spread person to person like the flu or COVID-19. Instead, it’s typically spread via exposure to water or mist that’s carrying Legionella bacteria.

The patient’s death prompted a state Department of Health inspection of the facility’s water system. On Nov. 18, state testing revealed Legionella in the water supply of one contained area of the hospital.

Hospital officials did not reveal which area of the hospital was using the water system containing the bacteria.

St. Joseph’s was notified by the state on Dec. 8 of the test results and began cleaning and treating its water system, according to hospital officials.

The health system is also in the process of notifying 228 former patients who were treated in that area of the hospital between Nov. 27 and Dec. 8 about the risk of infection.

Hospital officials said there’s minimal risk of contracting the disease from the water supply.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia or lung infection caused by the Legionella bacteria. It causes symptoms that can include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle aches and headache.

Symptoms typically develop within 14 days of exposure, but it can take longer. Although most healthy people exposed to Legionella won’t get sick, others are at an increased risk. People over 50, particularly smokers, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing the disease.

About 250 to 350 cases of Legionnaires are reported each year throughout New Jersey, according to the state Department of Health.

Last year, 224 cases were diagnosed in the state.