Information from IU Health LaPorte Hospital
IU Health LaPorte Hospital has treated two patients with Legionella bacteria in the month of February. Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in warm water. For this reason, it is 
not always possible to determine the exact source of the bacteria, as it can thrive in many places within the community. To be proactive, the hospital has elected to treat the water delivery system within the hospital. This treatment is called hyper chlorination, and involves flushing the hospital’s pipes with chlorinated water to disinfect them. This treatment took place between 2-9 p.m. Feb. 26. It is a safe and effective treatment, and tap water is safe for drinking and bathing immediately after treatment.
Medical professionals at IU Health LaPorte Hospital are well-equipped to treat infectious diseases and routinely address infection prevention proactively. Hospital officials are working closely with the LaPorte County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health to keep them informed. The patients, staff and visitors at the hospital are safe. Officials at the LaPorte County Health Department routinely investigate Legionella instances to help determine the source of the bacteria whenever possible, and have assured hospital officials that the public is safe as well.
Legionella facts (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
— Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever, collectively known as Legionellosis.
— An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease each year in the U.S.
— Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in warm water.
— Legionella bacteria are not transmitted from person to person.
— Legionella infection is treated with antibiotics.
— People get Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever when they breathe in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) that has been contaminated with Legionella bacteria.
— Most people with Legionnaires’ disease will have pneumonia (lung infection) because the Legionella bacteria grow and thrive in the lungs.