Following CDC guidelines and a national trend, several hospitals in and around Indianapolis are warning more than 8,000 patients of infections related to heater-coolers, a device used during heart surgeries.
Heater-coolers are medical devices used during some cardiac surgeries. In October, the CDC warned hospitals that the Stöckert 3T heater-cooler devices made by LivaNova were spreading bacteria to patients and could cause nontuberculous mycobacteria infections. Officials urged hospitals that use the specific type of device to warn potentially affected patients they might be at risk.
WTHR reports the following hospitals are notifying patients of infection risks:
- IU Health — 6,500 patients at its Methodist and University campuses in Indianapolis and its Arnett (Ind.) and Bloomington (Ind.) hospitals
- Roudebush VA Medical Center — 430 patients
- Franciscan Health — 800 patients at its Indianapolis, Lafayette and Crown Point hospitals
- Community Health Network — 600 patients
Several other hospitals in the U.S. have issued similar warnings.
No patients in Indiana have been diagnosed with an NTM infection, the state department of health told WTHR.