‘No direct evidence’ of hospital infection link, says medical chief

The public inquiry is investigating patient safety issues and links to the construction of the QEUH campus.

The hospital opened in 2015, but a series of infection outbreaks and concerns around the water and ventilation systems began to emerge three years later.

Other senior infection control doctors have told the inquiry that there was a link between the hospital’s water and ventilation systems and increased infections.

Prof Leanord is a microbiologist who advised the Scottish government on healthcare associated infections.

On Tuesday, he said he carried out genomic sequencing work on tens of thousands of water samples taken between 2015 and 2020 at the Glasgow hospital to see if there was evidence of direct transmission from the environment to patients. He found none.

Prof Leanord acknowledged that his research did not rule out a link, but said it could not be proven.

“I wouldn’t say there was nothing going on… all I’m saying is the data shows there is no evidence of direct transmission between the environment and the patient,” he said.