Legionella bacteria outbreak reported at Novi Sad maternity clinic

Reports have emerged regarding a potential Legionella bacteria outbreak at the Betanija maternity clinic, part of the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. According to some reports, three patients were transferred to the Institute for Lung Diseases in Sremska Kamenica after being diagnosed with the infection, which is often linked to contaminated air conditioning systems.

In response to these claims, the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina stated that microbiological testing conducted on September 16 using accredited PCR methods found no traces of the bacteria in water samples or swabs taken from the clinic’s air conditioning units. The institution confirmed that while two patients had been hospitalized and operated on at the maternity clinic before being transferred to the lung institute, they were discharged in stable condition.

The clinic maintains that immediate epidemiological, hygienic, and sanitary measures were implemented upon learning of the cases. They emphasized that pregnant women and postpartum patients at the clinic have not been affected by the bacteria.