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Increased legionella detections: In order to protect patients and employees from legionella, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has implemented numerous hazard prevention measures / There is no increased risk of infection

In extensive internal investigations, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has determined that the technical action value of the Drinking Water Ordinance for legionella is exceeded in some of the buildings. For this reason, the measures to ensure water quality that have been in place at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg for years have been significantly expanded: The number of sampling points and samples has been significantly increased, all affected pipelines have been comprehensively flushed and washbasins and showers in the affected patient areas have been fitted with filters. By fitting legionella filters, the water at these tapping points is of drinking water quality and can be used safely. Staff showers have also been fitted with filters. The drinking water fountains in the hospital are already fitted with filters at the factory. An external, independent expert was consulted for the risk assessment as well as the evaluation and monitoring of the planned measures.

"Due to the measures already taken, there is no increased risk of infection at the hospital from a medical point of view," says Prof. Dr. Philipp Henneke, Medical Director of the Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Hygiene at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. Further steps are being taken in close consultation with the public health department, Henneke continues.

Frequent problem in older pipe systems

Legionella bacteria are often found in older tap water systems and can pose a risk to people with pre-existing illnesses and severely weakened immune systems if the pathogens reach deep into the lungs via aerosols. In order to raise the safety of patients and employees to the highest possible level and in view of the amended Drinking Water Ordinance, which came into force on June 24, 2023, legionella testing at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has been significantly increased. "With our greatly expanded monitoring, we have a good overview of the situation," says Henneke.

Search for causes underway

In parallel to the acute measures to ensure the safety of patients and staff, experts from the Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Hygiene are working intensively with the hospital's own building services experts and an external expert to identify possible causes. Every room in the hospital is examined. Initial findings have already been used locally to improve the situation.

The hospital's water pipe network is more than 300 kilometers long and parts of it are more than 70 years old. In some cases, cold and hot water pipes lie next to each other without insulation, which can lead to an increase in the cold water temperature and thus facilitate the proliferation of legionella. Dead pipes and little-used water outlets can also be a source. The continuous risk assessment and evaluation of the measures already implemented and planned by the external expert will provide further important findings. The implementation of the planned structural changes is expected to take several years.