Prevention of Legionnaires' disease in hospitals.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The first instance of Legionella infection in a Norwegian hospital was confirmed in 2005. We describe the best-known methods of eradicating Legionella in hospitals.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

The article is based on the authors' experience of measures to prevent Legionnaires' disease in hospitals and on a non-systematic search in PubMed.

RESULTS:

There are several methods of combating Legionella in hospitals. These include chlorination, heat treatment, and the use of filters. However, recontamination easily re-occurs after eradication. The silver and copper ionisation treatment of water is a well-documented method for the systematic and long-term eradication of Legionella in water. The disadvantages of this method are that it is expensive, that there is a risk of discolouring the water, and that there is a possibility of developing resistance in environmental bacteria. This resistance mechanism can theoretically be transferred to bacteria that cause illness.

INTERPRETATION:

We recommend the silver and copper ionisation treatment of water as a method of preventing nosocomial Legionnaires' disease when standard methods fail and there is a high prevalence of Legionella in the water. The discolouration of operation instruments that occurs as a result of high silver concentrations can be avoided by using a separate water supply for operation units.

• Authors: Marjut Sarjomaa, Per Urdahl, Einar Ramsli, Carl-Fredrik Borchgrevink-Lund, Eirik Ask
• Journal: Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen) Vol. 131 Issue 16 Pg. 1554-7 (Aug 23 2011) ISSN: 0807-7096 [Electronic] Norway
• PMID: 21866196 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Cross Infection (microbiology, prevention & control)
• Disinfection
• Filtration
• Hot Temperature
• Humans
• Infection Control (methods)
• Legionella pneumophila (drug effects, radiation effects)
• Legionnaires' Disease (microbiology, prevention & control)
• Ultraviolet Rays
• Water Microbiology
• Water Purification (methods)
• Water Supply