Patient diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease at Cheltenham General Hospital - 19-07-2008

A PATIENT has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease at Chelt- enham General Hospital.

The infection was diagnosed on Thursday.

The patient was isolated and their family informed.

Water pipes at the hospital have been disinfected as a precautionary measure and bottled water brought in for patients to drink and wash with.

Health Protection Officials are working with hospital and environmental health teams to investigate the cause of the infection. It's not clear yet whether the patient contracted the potentially lethal disease during their stay in the hospital or outside.

A helpline has been set up for family and friends who are concerned about patients' health.

Legionnaires' is a form of pneumonia which can be contracted by inhaling mist from baths and showers although the most common cause is contaminated air conditioning systems.

Steve Peak, director of operations at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "An individual has been re-admitted to hospital with Legionnaires' Disease.

"It's possible it could be hospital acquired or acquired outside.

"We've flushed the water system through with chemicals because that's the only way the patient could have caught the disease.

"But it was a precaution because we have no evidence whatsoever that this organism is within our system. It's not passed from person-to-person."

Dr Sean Elyan, medical director at the Trust, said: "The Health Protection Agency and Environmental Health officials are carrying out an investigation.

"They will look at where the patient has been during the past 14 days.

"Water systems are being checked and temperatures monitored to see if there was any potential for organisms to develop.

"We admit a handful of cases of Legionnaires' each year as does every hospital in the country."

Coun Andrew Gravells (C, Abbey), chairman of Gloucestershire's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: "This is potentially very serious, and I will be watching developments closely.

"I have also asked the hospital Trust how many outbreaks of Legionnaires' there have been in Gloucestershire hospitals over the past three years, as none have ever been reported to our committee."

Dr Isabel Oliver from HPA South West said: "We're working closely with the Foundation Trust, local authority, and national HPA legionella specialists to find the source of the infection.

"People with Legionnaires' disease may develop pneumonia so it's important to investigate these cases thoroughly.

"However, we would like to reassure the public that the disease cannot be spread from person to person."

In January, showers at Stroud's Stratford Park Leisure Centre tested positive for the legionella bacteria.

Anyone who develops symptoms should seek advice from NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Patients and relatives can also call the Trust's dedicated helpline on 0800 0193368, between 8am and 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

A review will be carried out by health teams at the hospital on Monday.

Legionnaires' disease, also known as Legionellosis, is a rare form of pneumonia.

It takes its name from the place of the first known outbreak - a hotel that was hosting a convention of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion in 1976.

It is fatal in five to 15 per cent of cases.

Legionnaires' disease is contracted by inhaling mist from water sources such as baths and showers contaminated with the Legionella pnuemophila bacteria.

The disease can also be found in contaminated air conditioning systems.

If the bacteria reaches the lungs it can cause Legionnaires'.

The disease can't be passed from one person to another.

Legionnaires' has an incubation period of between two and 10 days.

Mass outbreaks of the disease are rare.

Legionnaires' is often treated with antibiotic drugs and recovery takes several weeks.

Legionella infection can be reduced by good operation and maintenance of air and water systems.

Legionnaires' disease usually strikes middle-aged people. Those at risk include smokers and those with existing health problems.

Symptoms are similar to those of flu, including headaches and muscle pain.

They are followed by fever and shaking, chills, breathlessness and a dry cough. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea may also occur.

Changes in mental state, such as confusion, disorientation, hallucination and loss of memory can then occur.

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