Dr Jeannette Young
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young

October 17, 2013

The legionella scare in Queensland hospitals earlier this year has led to the release of a number of recommendations to decrease the risk of future outbreaks occurring.

The review, by Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young, was tabled in State Parliament today.

It recommended that all public and private hospitals, and all public residential aged care facilities, be required – and private residential aged care facilities be requested – to develop water quality risk management plans, including periodic testing of water supplies.

The scare followed two cases of Legionnaires disease at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.

In the wake of the outbreak,  a massive logistical exercise was launched to sample, test and treat water supplies in all Queensland’s public, private and day hospitals.

“These facilities reported more than 5000 test results and of these, 83 public and 76 private facilities were free of Legionella,” Health Minister Mr Lawrence Springborg said.

“Positive samples were however returned at 106 facilities across the State.”

Amongst the hospitals to return positive samples were Kingaroy, Wondai, Murgon and Cherbourg.

“This bacterium has proven highly persistent in some areas, particularly at Charleville and Waroona, which have undergone nine separate rounds of testing and treatment to date,” Mr Springborg said.

“On top of the logistical issues posed by this task, there has also been a large financial impost on some Hospital and Health Services.

“Costs received to date from hospital and health services have ranged from $20,000 to around $100,000 depending on the scope of testing undertaken, the treatment required or the size of the health service.”