Newham Recorder, UK - 17 Sep 2003
EXCLUSIVE By SUSAN SMITH, Chief Reporter

The bacteria which can cause the deadly Legionnaires' disease has been discovered at Plaistow Hospital.

Underlying disease and old age not only increases the risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease but also the risk of dying from it. And it is mainly sick, elderly people who are cared for at the hospital. Many old folk also live there.

They were told that they could not have baths and showers and staff were warned not to use hot water in a bid to contain the problem. The bacteria Legionella – found in hot and cold water systems, air conditioning cooling systems, and ponds – was discovered in the water system at the Samson Street hospital during routine maintenance work.

A concerned member of staff ignored bosses' plea not to leak the news and said: "They're telling us it's extremely low risk, but I wouldn't tolerate it in my home, and I won't tolerate it in my place of work."

The disease, which is not contagious, is contracted by inhaling airborne water droplets containing the Legionella organisms. Some investigators believe that the disease may be acquired also by drinking contaminated water.

Cases have also been blamed on contact between contaminated water and incisions and skin wounds. Legionnaires' disease can develop within two to ten days after exposure.

Initial symptoms include a flu-like illness with a loss of energy, headaches, nausea, aching muscles, high fever, chest pains and a dry cough. The symptoms frequently lead to pneumonia.

Later, many bodily systems as well as the mind may be affected. It will eventually cause death if the body's high fever and antibodies cannot defeat it, though antibiotics are effective in many cases.

Deaths occur in ten to 15 per cent of otherwise healthy individuals who get the disease, though the infection risk to this group is reported to be "minimal", said the Public Health Laboratory Service.

The death risk is higher in more vulnerable groups of patients, and some outbreaks have claimed more than 50 per cent of lives, it has been reported.

A spokesman for Newham Primary Care Trust, who run the hospital, said that "at this time there is no evidence that patients or staff are at any risk of infection". They took immediate action to ensure that any risk was minimised, he said.

"The Trust has briefed all patients at Plaistow Hospital and their relatives so they are aware of the situation," added the spokesman.

Following a meeting on Wednesday, the Trust took action, as advised by their Infection Control Team and the Health Protection Agency, to resolve the problem as a matter of urgency, continued the spokesman. Resources were prioritised to ensure it is dealt with as quickly as possible.

Work, including pasteurisation of the water, has been done, and all remedial action recommended is being taken, added the spokesman. "The imminent danger is over," he said yesterday.

The Trust is also working on a plan to ensure the risk of reoccurrence is minimised, he added.

Web Source