Legionnaires’ bacteria found at Trinity Rock Island Hospital; the state stops surgical operations

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (KWQC) – UnityPoint Health – Trinity Rock Island has halted surgeries after detecting the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease in the air conditioning system.

Rock Island County Health Department Director George Verástegui said the state has ordered surgeries to stop until the bacteria is no longer detectable.

Verástegui and the hospital said patients were safe because detections were limited to an area outside the main building.

The hospital remains open but is temporarily without air conditioning.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious and potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. According to the CDC, about 1 in 10 people with Legionnaires’ disease will die from complications related to their disease.

Common sources of bacteria are cooling towers: structures that contain water and a fan that are part of centralized air cooling systems.

Verástegui said the hospital is working on the HVAC system and testing it regularly. The director said public health officials will have a clearer idea early next week.

Trinity Rock Island released a statement Friday morning:

“Recent testing identified Legionella bacteria in the cooling towers at UnityPoint Health – Trinity Rock Island. We immediately shut down the cooling towers and are working with the Illinois Department of Public Health and water system experts to clean and retest them. Because the HVAC system is a closed system that vents to the outdoors, there is currently no risk to patients, team members, or the community. Drinking water and ice remain safe. While the cooling system is out of service, we are working to maintain safe temperatures, patient comfort and essential services. The Rock Island hospital remains open and we will contact patients directly if their scheduled care is affected.