A patient at UW Health's University Hospital in Madison, Wis., has died of Legionnaires' disease. Five patients had recently been identified as having Legionnaires', according to an article on the Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control website.
The hospital suspects the cause is its hot water system.
The hospital has a water treatment system, however, "a recent adjustment to that system may have compromised its function," according to a hospital statement.
University Hospital had stopped the use of hospital showers until early Nov. 29. It also used a hyperchlorination process to flush all hot water lines to eliminate any Legionella bacteria.
All five patients tested positive for Legionnaires' disease in the past 14 days. They are the first cases of the disease acquired at the hospital in 23 years.
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