Brisbane’s Mater Hospital is awaiting test results of water sampling at its South Brisbane campus to confirm whether the potentially deadly legionella bacteria is present in its water systems.
As a precautionary measure, the Mater Hospital said it was not letting patients who were at higher risk due to their health status use showers and sinks, and said other measures were being put in place.
“This includes being supplied with bottled or filtered water and not using ice machines, until we are certain that the water is completely safe,” a statement from the Mater said.
“With these measures employed, Mater does not believe that there is any increased risk of infection for patients, staff or visitors.
“Legionnaires disease is not spread person to person.
“It is spread by breathing in tiny droplets of moisture that contain the legionella bacteria.
“Legionella bacteria are common in the environment — they can be found in air-conditioning cooling towers, hot or warm water systems, showerheads, spa baths and even soil and potting mix.”
The test results are expected later today.
Bacteria found in a Hervey Bay health centre
Meanwhile, Queensland Health said safety measures remained in place at a Hervey Bay health centre after another round of testing had returned a positive result for legionella bacteria.
In January, two tests confirmed the bacteria in two hot water taps at Hervey Bay Oral Health and Cancer Care Centre.
The centre’s hot water system was then flushed.
The Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service said post-treatment tests revealed the bacteria was no longer in the hot water system, but had now been identified in two cold water fountains.
Proposed laws to change testing and reporting requirements
A string of hospitals have recently returned positive results for the legionella pneumophila bacteria, including the Wesley Hospital at Auchenflower, and in a patient at the Mater Private Hospital at South Brisbane a week and a half ago.
In 2013, 60-year-old John Pearson died after contracting legionnaire’s disease from a shower at the Wesley Hospital.
Another man died in Hervey Bay hospital in April 2015, where the legionella bacteria was discovered.
Since Mr Pearson’s death, public hospitals have been regularly testing, but not publicly reporting.
Aged care facilities and private hospitals have not been required to notify the Health Department of a positive result.
However, under proposed state laws due to be introduced in the first half of 2016, all Queensland hospitals and aged care homes would be forced to regularly test for the potentially deadly legionella bacteria and publicly report the results.
The proposed legislation would include penalties for hospitals and aged care homes that do not follow the new rules.