Probe over Legionnaires' patient

An "urgent" investigation is under way after a hospital patient was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, an NHS trust said.

The rare form of pneumonia was discovered at Cheltenham General Hospital, Gloucestershire, on Thursday, although health officials do not know if it was contracted on the premises.

The patient was isolated, the water system chlorinated and thermally treated, and bottled water brought in for other patients to drink and wash with.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) officers are working with the hospital to find a possible source of the disease, which can be lethal.

The patient remains in hospital. No further details about the victim or the seriousness of the condition are being released by the trust, under the terms of patient confidentiality.

Legionnaires' disease is most often spread through contaminated air-conditioning systems, but can be contracted by inhaling mist from baths and showers.

Steve Peak, director of service delivery at the trust, said: "Patient safety is a priority for the Foundation Trust, so we're looking into this urgently, helped by expert advice.

"We don't yet know where the patient contracted the infection from, but as a sensible precaution, we are treating the water supply and closing the ward in question to new admissions."

Dr Isabel Oliver, of the South West HPA, said: "We're working closely with the Foundation Trust, local authority, and national HPA legionella specialists to find a source for the infection. Samples have been taken from the hospital water facilities for testing in HPA laboratories. In the meantime, precautionary action has been taken while a source is sought.

"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."

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