A Public Health England (PHE) guidance document issued last year, Responding to the detection of legionella in healthcare premises – Guidance for PHE health protection teams (HPTs), ‘raises numerous questions about current levels of communication that Trusts have inhouse, and with HPTs, on positive Legionella sample results and what they mean’.
So says Alan Hambidge, a trainer at Eastwood Park, and water hygiene and safety consultant, who explained: “A survey across HPTs in England to assess their involvement with local healthcare premises on Legionella control discovered that, in some areas, the local HPT is informed when relatively low levels are detected, or when there are significantly elevated levels of Legionella. In a small number of instances the HPT is only contacted when there are clinical cases. There is also considerable variation in the level of involvement premises request.”
The PHE document offers:
- Guidance for PHE HPT personnel when approached by infection prevention and control teams and estates departments on maintaining their water systems, ‘to ensure a consistent and appropriate response’;
- Information and practical guidance for HPT staff participating in incident control teams, or a Water Safety Group
Alan Hambidge added: “The guidance describes situations where HPTs should be contacted, and the extent of involvement that can be expected of them where Legionella counts are detected in hot and cold water systems. It incorporates an algorithm applicable where there are no associated nosocomial cases, but where it is possible that cases may subsequently be identified. There is also a checklist useable as a detailed assessment tool to ensure that Trusts are aware of, and are properly addressing, Legionella control issues.”
