LEGIONNAIRES disease is back at one of Queensland’s leading hospitals, finding its way into an ice machine despite strict measures being put in place at the facility in the wake of a deadly 2013 outbreak.

A palliative care patient has tested positive for legionella pneumophila at The Wesley Hospital and an ice machine has also returned a positive result. Queensland Health has confirmed an investigation is under way.

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Seriously ill patients in hospitals are often offered pieces of ice to refresh their mouths.

In 2013 legionella bacteria brought the Brisbane UnitingCare Health facility to its knees when a cancer patient died from the lung infection and a second patient ended up in intensive care after contracting the disease.

This was the first ever recorded hospital outbreak and The Wesley was forced to run at reduced capacity for a month. The response to the outbreak cost millions of dollars.

Following the superbug crisis in Brisbane the State Government introduced mandatory periodic water testing at all private and public health facilities.

Yesterday the hospital reported that they have carried out these mandatory tests and the water supplies have returned a negative result for the past two years.

UnitingCare Health chief operating officer Terence Seymour said that other patients in proximity are being closely monitored by their doctors.

“It is not clear if the patient located in the ward had accessed the ice machine, however this is being investigated,” he said. “We are working closely with Queensland Health’s Public Health Unit to identify the source of the contamination. This may take several weeks.

“Let me reassure all patients, their families and our staff that we continue to be very vigilant on water safety.

“Because the patient, who has significant complex medical conditions, also spent time away from the hospital during the exposure period, the source of the patient’s infection cannot be determined at this stage.

“A full scientific investigation of the water supply is under way to determine where exposure to the legionella bacteria may have occurred.”

He said details of the patient would not be disclosed for privacy reasons.

Mr Seymour said the hospital’s ice machines are serviced regularly and filters are replaced every three months under industry guidelines.

“As a precaution all ice machines have been disconnected, sterilised and all hoses and filters are being replaced,” he said.

Mr Seymour said the hospital continued to work with international and national water management experts to maintain its industry-leading standards in managing water safety.

“A review into the prevention and control of legionella pneumophila infection in Queensland was completed in June 2013,” Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young (pictured) said yesterday.

“The review made recommendations, including the requirement for all public and private hospitals to develop water quality management plans which includes periodic testing of their water supplies for legionella.”

While Dr Young cleared The Wesley Hospital of any negligence in the 2013 outbreak, the hospital came under fire for taking a week to report positive testing to the health authorities.

Legionella pneumophila thrive in warm water and in man-made environments such as inside plumbing fixtures and pipes. Patients with a chronic medical condition are at more risk than others. The bacteria was then found in the hospital’s hot water system.

Timeline of June 2013 outbreak at The Wesley Hospital

* Wesley delays reporting positive Legionnaires test to authorities by week

* Infection must be reported within 24 hours

* 60-year-old man dies after contracting disease

* 46-year-old woman in intensive care

* Hospital cancels admissions and surgeries

* Discharged patients contacted

* Legionnaires bacteria found in hot water system

* Chief Health Officer carries out review into disease prevention and control

* Health Minister announces mandatory periodic water testing