We'll keep water infection at bay
DIRECTORS at Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal hospitals have welcomed a radical programme of disinfection to ensure there are no more outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease.
In July, it was confirmed a case at the hospital in Cheltenham was linked to the water supply.
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Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
The infection was diagnosed in a patient following a routine urine sample and tests carried out by the Health Protection Agency confirmed there was a link between the infection and samples taken from water pipes.
Legionella bacteria was found in the water system that supplied four wards, including Hazelton Ward, where the patient was.
Steps are being taken to reduce the risk of another case. Infection control officials met experts from the Health Protection Agency, Health and Safety Executive and local environmental health departments to agree an action plan.
Super chlorination with chlorine dioxide is being used as the most effective weapon to fight Legionella, pseudomonads and other pathogenic bacteria simultaneously in the water system.
As a gas released in water, it is able to penetrate the protective layers of slime-forming micro-organisms and leads to its gradual removal from all pipe-work.
It meets drinking water regulations so continual dosing is possible and there is no concern about resistance developing.
Chlorine dioxide also protects pipelines, which are not in continual use.
Monitoring measures of water across the hospital is in place with time temperature surveys and Legionella culture of water supplies.
Graham Lloyd, director of corporate governance and facilities at the trust, spoke at a board meeting of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
He said: "We've already used chlorine dioxide in the water system at Cheltenham General and in seven weeks' time we expect Gloucestershire Royal to have benefited as well.
"We're implementing a full testing regime, including water quality testing."
Coun Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey), chairman of Gloucestershire's health overview and scrutiny committee, added: "These improvements will hopefully ensure that the risk of cases of Legionnaires' at county hospitals is eliminated."
Hospital-acquired Legionnaires' disease usually originates in water systems.
Legionella not only persists in hot water tanks, it is often found in the thin layers of film through the entire water system.
The patient with Legionnaires, who did not want to be named, is believed to be recovering.
3 Comments
by Simon French, South West England
Sunday, October 05 2008, 3:40PM
“Super Chlorination? I don't think so! ongoing super chlorination as you put it would desolve the pipework in no time let alone the damage to human beings! People who report on these legionella related issues should get their facts right before publishing into the public domain. I recommend the author of this article to go on an awareness course.”
by me, chelt
Monday, September 29 2008, 10:19PM
“you should be ashamed of yourselves - when the legionares story hit the headlines hit your publication stated all cgh patients had been told of the situation!! as a post surgical patient on a ward where i was being given bottled water and not allowed a bath or shower due to reasons no one could explain .... the first we found was when a visitor to another patient brought a copy of your rag into the hospial for a relitive - i was on a ward with a dodgy water supply ---------- trust me the trust kept us in the dark and fed us bull (medical term - mushroom diet!!! )”
by may, Gloucester
Monday, September 29 2008, 10:59AM
“There should be no need to do this there should have been a programme ongoing for years as this is not a new problem has money anything to do with this was it deemed an unecessary expenditure until persons became ill with the risk of death if not treated in time? A bit of shut the gate now the horse has bolted....”