About 3,000 people in Adelaide, South Australia who have had heart surgery are warned of a possible rare bacterial infection caused by a heart machine.  One patient in Queensland has already been reported to be affected.

At Least 50 Patients Worldwide Have Already Been Identified

The machine, the Sorin 3T heater-cooler, regulates patients' temperatures during surgery, which operates worldwide, can spread the infection.  More than 50 patients worldwide have already been identified with Mycobacterium chimaera infections after cardiac surgery. 

In October, Centers for Disease and Control Prevention posted that the devastating Mycobacterium chimaera infections result from aerosols generated by contaminated heater-cooler units used with extracorporeal circulation during surgery.  Despite cleaning and disinfection, samples acquired from 2014, the machines still grew the bacteria.

People who had surgery at Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Private or Ashford Hospital between July 2011 and July 2016 are susceptible to the infection, but it may be unlikely that any of the patients have been affected, South Australia health officials said.  About 1,000 patients will receive update this week about the issue.

The Machines Were Contaminated During Manufacturing

The issue about the Sorin 3T heater-cooler has been initially flagged in 2015, and another warning was announced in October of 2016.  It is said that the machines could have been contaminated during manufacturing in Europe. 

The bacterial infection hit one in about 10,000 patients and may develop up to five years after the surgery.  Symptoms of Mycobacterium chimaera infections include fever, weight loss, shortness of breath, night sweats, joint or muscle pains, nausea, heat and infection around the surgical site.

The patient from Queensland who has been confirmed to have been hit by the bacterial infection is already recovering.  Meanwhile, the machines are already being decommissioned in South Australia and will be replaced over the coming weeks.