Bacterial Infections at Local Hospital Investigated by Health Department

The Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) is investigating several incidents that occurred in July 2015 involving Huntington Hospital patients who contracted a bacterial infection possibly related, but not yet confirmed, to endoscopic procedures performed at the hospital.

The infections involving three patients are not contagious to the general public and there is no risk of a disease outbreak similar to a flu virus or measles, according to Pasadena Public Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh.  The PPHD has no specific patient information available to release and has not confirmed the cause or source of the infection.  Huntington Hospital officials are cooperating fully in the investigation.

Dr. Paula Verrette, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Quality and Physician Services at Huntington Hospital, said in a statement issued Aug. 19, 2015 that the hospital quarantined the suspected equipment “after discovering a potential link between bacterial growth in a small number of patients who had undergone an ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) procedure.”

The hospital identified the bacteria as Pseudomonas, a different type of bacteria than was detected in similar cases at other hospitals in Los Angeles County.  For more information about bacteria in a healthcare setting, go to http://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html.   For more information about endoscopic procedures, go to http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/diagnostic-tests/ercp/Pages/diagnostic-test.aspx.

PPHD is being assisted by experts from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department.  The County recently investigated two similar situations at area hospitals involving bacterial infections and endoscopic equipment.  The California Department of Public Health and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been advised of the situation and are closely following any developments.

The PPHD investigation is at a very preliminary stage and there is no additional information that can be provided at this time.  There is no timeline for the investigation and all information will be forwarded to all appropriate state and federal health officials for additional review and determination.

Regulation and licensing of hospitals is done by the state, not locally.

For more than 120 years, the PPHD has been committed to protecting the public health and providing education, services and support to improve and maintain the quality of health for Pasadena.  For more information, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/publichealth.