4 Deaths Linked To Bacterial Infection At Pa. Hospital

As many as 1,300 people who underwent surgery at a Pennsylvania hospital may have been exposed to a harmful bacteria that is believed to be responsible for the deaths of four patients, according to an announcement made Monday by WellSpan York Hospital.

According to the York-based hospital, patients who had open-heart surgery between Oct. 1 2011 and July 24, 2015 may have been exposed to nontuberculous mycobacterium, or NTM.

Hospital officials have linked the bacterial infection to a heater-cooler device used during open-heart surgery.

Eight patients who had open-heart surgery at the hospital acquired an NTM infection in the months or years following their surgery. Four of the infected patients are now deceased.

“While the CDC has not directly linked the deaths of these individuals to the NTM infections associated with the heater-cooler devices, it is likely a contributing factor,” the hospital said in a statement.

The hospital said it learned of the risk after reading about it in a medical journal and a short time later became aware of several surgery patients with NTM infections of the type identified in the study.

After learning of the infections, hospital staff began working with the CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to conduct an extensive review. The investigation was completed and the findings were released earlier this month.

The hospital said its physicians made personal phone calls to all patients who have acquired an NTM infection. The family members of those who are now deceased have been contacted by hospital staff, officials there said.

The approximately 1,300 patients who received open-heart surgery there and who may have been exposed to the bacteria have been notified via letter, the hospital said.

“The letters encourage those patients to consult their primary care physician who can help them monitor their health and identify any new symptoms that could be associated with a possible NTM infection – particularly within four years following the date of their most recent open-heart surgery at WellSpan York Hospital,” the statement said.

There is no longer a risk of bacterial exposure, the hospital said.

The hospital has established a dedicated website (www.WellSpan.org/yorkopenheart) that contains information and resources as well as a toll-free nurse call center (866-217-2970), which is dedicated to answering questions from patients and the community 24 hours a day.

“We know that the news of this potential risk of infection may be concerning to our open-heart patients, and we sincerely regret any distress that it may create for those patients and their families,” said Keith Noll, senior vice president of WellSpan Health, and president of WellSpan York Hospital. “We are committed to ensuring our patients have all the information, care and treatment they need regarding this issue.”

Federal health authorities believe this device issue may be widespread across the country and have issued health advisories to hospitals nationally in an effort to prevent these infections, WellSpan York Hospital said.