Water tests conducted at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg have revealed that there is no Legionella contamination at the skilled nursing facility.
CEO and President John Dickson said he got the test results on Thursday.
“To ensure the continued safety of our residents, staff and visitors, we are proceeding with additional sanitizing actions within specific areas and will continue to follow protocols and guidelines of bottled water use, etc., until this procedure is completed,” Dickson said via email.
The facility routinely tests for such concerns. Testing done in December also showed no Legionella bacteria, Dickson said.
A resident who was taken to the hospital May 21 tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, prompting emergency measures at the 77-bed facility and a meeting with residents and family members.
The resident has since recovered and returned, Dickson said.
“Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare upholds the highest standards of care and service,” he said.
There have been 136 confirmed cases of Legionella reported in the state so far this year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Legionnaires’ disease is contracted through exposure to Legionella bacteria in mist or water droplets, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In general, it is not transmitted from one person to another.
The disease takes its name from an outbreak at the Pennsylvania American Legion convention held at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia in July 1976.
