Hospital warning heart patients of bacteria

A Southern California hospital is warning open-heart surgery patients that they may have been infected with dangerous bacteria.

Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena sent warning letters last month to patients who had surgery in the past four years.

The hospital and many others around the country use a blood heating and cooling device that’s been linked to dozens of infections. Some patients have died.

But the Los Angeles Times said Huntington hadn’t found any patients who were sickened as of Friday.

Federal officials have said the risk of infection is relatively low but patients can become ill years after their operations.

Authorities say people who’ve had open-heart surgery should seek medical care if they have muscle aches, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue or unexplained fever.