Legionella testing in Queensland Hospitals

Queensland Health will start reporting Legionella water testing results from hospitals across the State by the end of next week.
 
Minister for Health Lawrence Springborg said completed results from hospitals that began sampling their water systems immediately after 7 June would soon be available.
 
"In line with provisions of the Private Health Facilities Act 1999, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has written to licensed private and day hospitals to request their agreement to publicly release their own results,” Mr Springborg said.

“Dr Young has told me that across the State, hospitals may return positive results for Legionella but this does not alter the relatively rare possibility of cases being acquired in hospitals.”
 
Mr Springborg said Legionella was ever-present in the environment and was often found in very low concentrations in potable water supplies, and detecting Legionella in a hospital water supply did not automatically equate to a human health risk.
 
"In fact, scrutiny of surveillance data going back to 2001 has not revealed hospital-acquired Legionella cases beyond those documented yesterday by the Chief Health Officer and set to be examined as part of her forthcoming inquiry,” he said.
 
“Interim guidelines have been distributed to public and private sector hospitals to complement the water testing regime I have established.

“These guidelines describe the steps required if water testing reveals higher than desired Legionella levels.

“If positive samples are returned, it is imperative that timely and appropriate treatment of the affected water supply is implemented. This will ensure the safety of patients is protected."
 
Mr Springborg said the guidelines would remain in effect until the Chief Health Officer's report was completed and any resulting legislative recommendations were considered.
 
Results will continue to be released on a weekly basis from the date of first release, until results for all hospitals have been reported (subject to the agreement of private and day hospitals).
 
[ENDS] 20 June 2013

Contact: Cameron Thompson 0407 585 230