SEATTLE — Virginia Mason Franciscan Health confirmed two more deaths among infected patients after a klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial outbreak began in late 2022.
The Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria was first detected at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in October 2022. To date, 33 people have been confirmed to be infected with the strain of bacteria, with the latest known case being identified on May 4, according to Virginia Mason.
The two latest deaths bring the overall total to nine since the start of the outbreak.
RELATED: 7 deaths, 31 cases reported since bacterial outbreak found at Virginia Mason in Seattle
Virginia Mason said they are working in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify the source of transmission.
The bacteria live naturally in our environment and can be part of the bacteria that live in a healthy digestive system. However, when it gets into other areas of the body, it can cause infection. This usually only happens when a person has other medical conditions that weaken their immune system.
The hospital said that infections commonly occur among sick or immunocompromised patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions.
“Whenever you are in a hospital setting, and you are getting a surgery or an IV, anything that is not normally in your body, there is always a risk,” said Dr. Arooj Simmonds, Division Chief Medical Officer, Providence Swedish. “For the average person, I wouldn’t be concerned, but I would be concerned about it the same way I am with anything else.”
There is no clear incubation period for the bacteria and public health officials said people can have it in their system for months without any symptoms, making it difficult to identify when and where someone may have been infected.
Sydney Bersante, Interim President of Virginia Mason Medical Center, said patients who tested positive for the bacteria were notified and given treatment when necessary.
