SEATTLE — Since October of last year, 33 patients at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle have been infected with Klebsiella bacteria and nine have died from the outbreak.
The downtown Seattle location is experiencing an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can lead to infections such as urinary tract infections, bloodstream, wound or surgical site infections, or pneumonia.
According to Public Health – Seattle and King County, nine patients who contracted the bacteria have died. It is still unclear if their deaths were caused by the infection.
The first infection was recorded on Oct. 10, 2022, and the most recent infection was confirmed on May 4.
The hospital said they are working with Public Health, CDC and Department of Health officials to control the outbreak.
"We immediately implemented increased safety measures, notified patients who had tested positive for the bacteria, and promptly provided treatment where necessary," said Sydney Bersante, Virginia Mason Medical Center interim president. "While the risk of transmission is extremely low for patients, we continue to take proactive steps to avoid additional transmission. We are continuing to investigate the source of this outbreak jointly with local and state public health partners.”
Officials have not determined the cause of the outbreak.
"These types of outbreaks are complex and despite thorough investigation, we may never know the source,” said Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable disease epidemiology & immunization for Public Health.
Hospital staff said patients who suspect illness or feel sick should reach out to their primary care provider, who can test for this bacterium and recommend a specific treatment.
It is not uncommon to see Klebsiella pneumonia in hospitals, but the rate of this outbreak has increased from Virginia Mason's baseline rate, according to Public Health.
Health officials said Klebsiella pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that lives naturally in our environment and can be part of the normal bacteria that live in a healthy digestive system. According to the hospital, Klebsiella infections commonly occur among sick or immunocompromised patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Most people who have Klebsiella pneumoniae in their digestive system will never experience an infection from this organism, but it can lead to infections like a urinary tract infection.