skip to main content

Legionnaires' samples found in hospital

Two new samples of the Legionnaires bacteria have been found on a shower unit and a tap in different parts of Waterford Regional hospital.

The discovery of the bacteria follows the death of a woman in the hospital last week who was being treated for the disease.

The South Eastern Health Board says no further case of Legionnaires Disease has been identified.

Samples were taken last week from over 100 sites around the hospital, including taps and showerheads.

The Health Board says the results from the first batch of 38 samples show the presence of the legionella bacteria in one sample.

Results from the next batch of 47 samples show the presence of legionella in one sample to date.

The Health Board says the results are not unexpected because legionella is a naturally occurring bacterium in water.

A full environmental sampling programme at the hospital was undertaken following the death of a Waterford woman last week, an action required by the National Disease Surveillance Centre guidelines.

The shower unit and tap, which showed a presence of legionella, were replaced and patients moved as a precautionary measure.

At the same time, the Health Board says additional measures were put in place to further reduce the risk of legionella.

The Independently chaired investigation team is to be informed of the environmental sampling programme and the team is expected to commence its investigation next week.