- It was high values directly this time, without us seeing it coming. That's why we did it immediately, says Britt Åkerlind, the region's infection prevention physician.
During a routine test on Wednesday evening, the elevated values of legionnaires were detected in some parts of the Vrinevis Hospital, and the hot water pipes were already flushed the same night.
It simply means raising the temperature of the incoming hot water in the pipes to 70 degrees instead of 60 and flushing for a while. Already after a minute, the legionella bacteria have died.
- We are currently waiting for the analysis results of the follow-up samples.
While waiting for them, it is forbidden to shower in certain parts of the Vrinevis Hospital.
- When you shower, you close yourself into a small room and there will be steam formation. If there are bacteria left in the line, you can inhale them. When you wash your hands in a sink, no water clouds are formed, says Britt Åkerlind.
The region Östergötland with its many and large properties has continuous measurements, control programs and daily care. Critical sites are being tested more often and right now, technicians are looking over the systems and will find out why the Legionnaires grew up.
- There is a lot of rebuilding at the hospital and there we have to look at the nature of the water pipes. In the existing pipelines, we now check that the water maintains the right temperature, says Britt Åkerlind.
The hospital will continue to take frequent tests until the root cause is found.