“For the average person, I wouldn’t be concerned, but I would be concerned about it the same way I am with anything else.” Arooj Simmonds, Division Chief Medical Officer, Providence Swedish. “Whenever you are in a hospital setting, and you are getting a surgery or an IV, anything that is not normally in your body, there is always a risk," said Dr. Virginia Mason said infections commonly occur among sick or immunocompromised patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Bacteria can then spread from the equipment to the patient.” Additionally, the bacteria might contaminate environmental surfaces, such as medical equipment like ventilators or catheters. “This can happen if you touch someone who has the infection and don’t wash your hands well afterward. “In healthcare settings, the bacteria can spread through person-to-person contact, often from contaminated hands,” Public Health – Seattle & King County wrote in a blog post. Public Health – Seattle & King County said Klebsiella bacteria don’t spread through the air. PREVIOUS | 7 deaths, 31 cases reported since bacterial outbreak found at Virginia Mason in Seattle This usually only happens when a person has other medical conditions that weaken their immune system. However, when it gets into other areas of the body, it can cause infection. The bacteria live naturally in our environment and can be part of the bacteria that live in a healthy digestive system. Virginia Mason said they are working in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify the source of transmission. The bacteria can cause pneumonia or bloodstream and wound infections. The two latest deaths bring the overall total to nine since the start of the outbreak. To date, 33 people have been confirmed to be infected with the strain of bacteria, with the latest known case being identified on May 4, according to Virginia Mason. The Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria infections were first detected at the Virginia Mason Medical Center campus in downtown Seattle in October 2022.
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