CUH ‘failed to isolate’ infection-risk patients

Failure to isolate 11 patients at risk of spreading infection was among a litany of shortcomings identified by the health watchdog in an inspection of Cork University Hospital (CUH).

Concern was also raised on prevention of waterborne infection. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) heard that one of the main water storage tanks at CUH had not been cleaned for some time “because of practical difficulties that could be experienced if the tank were to be emptied”.

A site risk-assessment for legionella had not been completed at the time of inspection in July. Hiqa was told a formal independent legionella risk assessment had commenced in June.