A type of bacteria known as Mycobacterium chimaera has been found in the water reservoirs of some Heater Cooler Units (HCUs) across the world, including in Queensland. HCUs are devices used during certain open heart surgeries, including heart valve or aortic vascular graft surgery.
While the risk to open heart surgery patients is low, Uniting Care Health has contacted open heart surgery patients to inform them of the bacterium.
If you have had open heart surgery between October 2011 and August 2016, please read the following Patient Information Fact Sheet from Queensland Health regarding this issue: Patient Information Factsheet.
If you have had open heart surgery at the Wesley Hospital or St Andrews War Memorial Hospital between October 2011 and August 2016 and have any symptoms as noted in the above fact sheet, please contact your cardiac surgeon’s rooms. Alternatively you can contact our Cardiac Care Coordinator at The Wesley Hospital on (07) 3232 6030 or St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital on (07) 3834 4328.
For further information, please visit the Queensland Health webpage regarding Mycobacterium chimaera in heater cooler units.
Last updated: 25 October 2016