Queensland Health is testing a Brisbane hospital’s water supply after a patient reportedly tested positive for the deadly legionella pneumophila bacteria.
The incident at the Wesley Hospital follows another incident in 2013 in which a person died after contracting legionnaires’ disease, which is caused by the bacteria.
UnitingCare Health chief operating officer Terence Seymour said the hospital’s water supplies had returned negative results for legionella over the past two years.
However, one ice machine in the patient’s ward has returned a positive result, he said.
Other patients in proximity are being closely monitored by their doctors.
“It is not clear if the patient located in the ward had accessed the ice machine, however this is being investigated,” he said.
“We are working closely with Queensland Health’s Public Health Unit to identify the source of the contamination. This may take several weeks.
“Let me reassure all patients, their families and our staff that we continue to be very vigilant on water safety.”
Mr Seymour said the infected patient had “significant complex medical conditions” and also spent time away from the hospital during the exposure period.
“The source of the patient’s infection cannot be determined at this stage,” he said.
“A full scientific investigation of the water supply is underway to determine where exposure to the legionella bacteria may have occurred.”
He said the hospital’s ice machines were serviced regularly and filters were replaced every three months.
“As a precaution all ice machines have been disconnected, sterilised and all hoses and filters are being replaced,” Mr Seymour said.
The state’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Metro North Public Health Unit was working closely with Wesley Hospital staff to carry out the investigation and necessary testing.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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