Unsanitary conditions at Loma Linda medical center may have led to rise in potentially fatal infections, VA says

The Medical Inspector launched a investigation into whistleblowers’ complaints and made a visit to the hospital from July 9-13, 2018. Federal investigators reviewed data from Pettis Medical Center for 2017 and 2018 and found 33 positive results for Legionella. 64 individual tests were conducted in wards, intensive-care units, operating rooms and other inpatient rooms. 9  tested positive for Legionella, with one room testing positive twice in September and once in October 2017. All positive tests were on the hot water outlet in the sink, the report says. Hospital officials informed the nurse manager of the Legionella, patients were relocated to different rooms and the sink was removed. Doctors were kept in the dark for months about Legionella bacteria lurking in the water system. In 2018, the VA gave the hospital a 1-star rating, the lowest possible performance.