Legionnaire’s report urges vigilance after woman dies

AN eight-month investigation into how a mother of seven died after contracting Legionnaire’s Disease while in hospital recommends that air, water and surface environments in hospitals should be regularly monitored.

The report, published today, confirms that Ena Kiely, 61, died after contracting the condition from a shower head in her bathroom or from a breathing device called a nebuliser.

Mrs Kiely died at Waterford Regional Hospital on April 27. She was admitted just over five weeks earlier to be treated for Crohn’s Disease.

Today the South Eastern Health Board will release details of an independent inquiry into the tragedy.

The report was headed up by Professor of Microbiology at the School of Dental Science, Trinity College Professor David Coleman.

It traces the source of the infection to either a shower in the patient’s en-suite bathroom, or a nebuliser.

The report recommends an environment management system should be developed in hospitals and the system should allow management to identify risks before they become a problem.

It also supports the hospital’s decision not to reveal the case when it first emerged that Mrs Kiely had contracted the infection. Mrs Kiely’s husband, Dr Edward Kiely, and their solicitor received today’s report last month.

An inquest into her death was due to take place on November 4 but it has been postponed, pending publication of today’s report.

The South Eastern Health Board launched the investigation, chaired by Professor Coleman. He will be present for the publication of the report today in Kilkenny.

Health Board chairman Séamus Ryan said recently any recommendations in the report would be acted on.

“We will not want to have a repeat of this tragic situation. If there any recommendations in the report the board will act upon them,” he said.

The investigating team examined hospital conditions which might have contributed to the infection. It also examined what was done when the case was confirmed.

The team also considered the preventative measures taken and systems in place within the hospital to minimise the transmission of this infection as well as the guidelines issued by the National Disease Surveillance Centre.