St. Joseph hospital limits water use after bacteria traces found

For the second time in less than a year, St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson has suspended showers for patients and started using bottled water after a routine monthly check showed traces of the bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease.

Spokeswoman Linda Harder said the elevated levels of Legionella may be the result of the new, state-of-the art water treatment system the hospital has started using, but said the medical center has decided to err on the side of caution until officials receive the results from a second round of tests. Those results are expected within a week to 10 days.

The hospital is using superheated water to kill bacteria in its hot-water tanks. It is also using bottled water for ice and coffee.

Harder said traces of Legionella bacteria can be found in up to 30 percent of water systems nationwide. She also said that Legionnaires' disease, which has symptoms similar to severe pneumonia, is difficult to contract and usually affects people with compromised immune systems.