4 deaths, 27 cases reported since bacterial outbreak found at Virginia Mason in Seattle

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is investigating a bacterial outbreak after 31 patients at its First Hill campus were infected.

The Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria was first detected at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in October 2022 and the latest confirmed case was identified on April 3. The bacteria can cause pneumonia or bloodstream and wound infections.

Public Health - Seattle & King County said of those 31 patients, four have died since the infection was identified, however it is unknown if the bacteria caused their deaths as those patients were hospitalized for various conditions. The bacteria live naturally in our environment and can be part of the bacteria that live in a healthy digestive system. However, when it gets into other areas of the body it can cause infection. This usually only happens when a person has other medical conditions that weaken their immune system.

There is also no clear incubation time period for the bacteria and public health officials said people can have it in their system for months without any symptoms, making it difficult to identify when and where someone may have been infected.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/4-deaths-27-cases-reported-since-bacterial-outbreak-found-at-virginia-mason-in-seattle/ar-AA1arOqO