Tayside patient one of those to catch Legionella from garden compost
ByAndrew Argo
Health experts have linked six Legionella cases to use of compost.
A grandmother said she was lucky to be alive after contracting a deadly bug from garden compost.
Keen gardener Margaret Malcolm (72) was left fighting for her life in hospital after falling victim to Legionella longbeachae, an infection linked with inhaling dust from man-made potting compost.
She spent three weeks in an intensive care and her family were warned that she faced being placed on a life support machine as her lungs began to fail.
Now recovering at home in Prestonpans, Margaret is preparing to launch a bid for compensation from the manufacturers of the compost and the garden centre which sold it.
Health officials linked six cases last September five in Lothian and one in Tayside to gardening compost but tests have only just been completed.
The Tayside casualty was treated in Ninewells Hospital.
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said they do not comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality.
