Shower head clue to man's legion death
Oct 9 2003 - by Helen Clarke, Liverpool Echo

A LIVERPOOL pensioner, who died from Legionnaires' disease, is believed to have contracted it from an infected shower head at Broadgreen hospital.

The 85-year-old man began showing symptoms of the respirat¬ory disease after being admitted to Broadgreen.

He was transfered to the Royal but died on Friday, September 26.

An emergency investigation was launched by hospital managers to find the source of the disease.

Tests have found the legionella bacteria in a shower head used by the patient at Broadgreen hospital.

This pinpoints the shower head as the likeliest source of the disease, although a further report from an independent expert will be needed before it can be proved conclusively.

Representatives of the hospital have sent their condolences to the man's family and today they reassured patients and staff visiting Broadgreen that measures had been taken to prevent such an incident recurring.

They are also confident no other patient or staff has been affected.

A spokesman for Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals said: "Extensive investigations into a case of legionnaires' disease in which an 85-year-old patient died have centred on a seldom used hand-held shower head.

"Rigorous tests discovered the presence of legionella bacteria in the shower head. which had been used by the patient.

"The trust complies with a strict code of practice for the control of legionella, but will now institute additional measures to ensure a recurrence is unlikely."

Dr John Curnow, from Cheshire and Merseyside health protection unit, added: "I am satisfied the investigation has been thorough, detailed and professional.

"They have taken the incident very seriously indeed and their programme of remedial action is robust."

Legionnaire's disease is a rare form of pneumonia transmitted by inhaling bacteria from contaminated water supplies.

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