Treatment of a Legionella pneumophila-colonized water distribution system using copper-silver ionization and continuous chlorination.
The detection in April 1997 of a case of nosocomial legionellosis in our hospital led to the discovery that both our hot- and cold-water circuits were heavily colonized with Legionella pneumophila. Conventional methods for eradication of the organisms were unsuccessful, so a copper-silver (Cu-Ag) ionization system and a continuous chlorination system were installed. Five months later, the number of colonized sites decreased from an initial 58.3% to 16.7%.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Nta Sra del Prado Hospital, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Spain.
A
A
Biurrun
L
L
Caballero
C
C
Pelaz
E
E
León
A
A
Gago
D002713:Chlorine; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
D002713:Chlorine