Though Medical University of South Carolina Health has had no reports of patients becoming infected, the Charleston-based system is warning patients of an infection risk associated with heater-cooler devices used during open-heart surgery procedures.
The CDC and Food and Drug Administration implicated Stöckert 3T heater-cooler devices in causing nontuberculous mycobacterium infections, specifically from the isolate Mycobacterium chimaera. The CDC recommended warning patients of their potential exposure if a health system uses that brand, hence MUSC Health notifying its patients.
According to Greenville Online, up to 3,000 MUSC Health patients are being notified.
The system is working on replacing its devices and is "taking steps to mitigate potential exposure to patients" in the mean time, according to a statement.