In response to a Health Canada advisory, patients who had heart-lung bypass surgery in BC are being notified they are at risk of infection associated with a machine used to warm and cool blood during surgery.
This, after several people in North America have been diagnosed with a rare infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium chimaera traced to the water tank in the heater-cooler machine.
Approximately 21,000 adult and child patients who have had heart, heart transplant or lung transplant surgery in BC since January 1, 2011 will receive letters to let them know of this possible risk, even though the chances of infection are very low.
Letters are being issued by Cardiac Services BC and BC’s cardiac centres – including Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital, and BC Children’s Hospital.
While no one in BC has contracted the infection as a result of heart, heart transplant or lung transplant surgery at this time there have been 2 confirmed cases in Canada, both in Quebec. The BC Centre for Disease says the chance of getting the infection is extremely low.