title: Literature review--efficacy of various disinfectants against Legionella in water systems.
abstract: There have been reported outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease at hospitals and industrial facilities, which prompted the development of various preventive measures. For example, Ford has been developing and implementing such a measure at its facilities worldwide to provide technical guidance for controlling Legionella in water systems. One of the key issues for implementing the measure is the selection of a disinfectant(s) and optimum conditions for its use. Therefore, available publications on various disinfectants and disinfection processes used for the inactivation of Legionella bacteria were reviewed. Two disinfection methods were reviewed: chemical and thermal. For chemical methods, disinfectants used were metal ions (copper and silver), oxidizing agents (halogen containing compounds [chlorine, bromine, iodine, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, and halogenated hydantoins], ozone, and hydrogen peroxide), non-oxidizing agents (heterocyclic ketones, guanidines, thiocarbamates, aldehydes, amines, thiocyanates, organo-tin compounds, halogenated amides, and halogenated glycols), and UV light. In general, oxidizing disinfectants were found to be more effective than non-oxidizing ones. Among oxidizing agents, chlorine is known to be effective and widely used. Among non-oxidizing agents, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitropropionamide appears to be the most effective followed by glutaraldehyde. Isothiazolin (known as Kathon), polyhexamethylene biguanide, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropionamide (known as Bronopol) were found to be less effective than glutaraldehyde. Thermal disinfection is effective at > 60 degrees C (140 degrees F).
authors.affiliation: Ford Research Laboratory, Dearborn, MI 48121, USA. bkim@ford.com
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kendall
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007875:Legionella / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011634:Public Health; D013696:Temperature; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants