title: Efficacy of copper-silver ionization for controlling fungal colonization in water distribution systems.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of fungal colonization in water systems and to evaluate the effect of decreasing fungal colonization by a copper-silver ionization system. Environmental samples were collected for fungal culture prospectively during a 1-year period (2011-2012) at the study hospital. A total of 392 water samples were examined from five buildings on March 1, 2011 and February 29, 2012. Fungi were isolated in 13 (3.4%) of 392 water samples from five buildings. The prevalence of fungal colonization in buildings was decreased from 4.76% (9/189) to 1.97% (4/203), a reduction of more than 40%, in pre-ionization and post-ionization treatment (p < 0.001). Thirteen (3.4%) of 392 water samples yielded fungi including Fusarium species (n = 7), Penicillium species (n = 2), Scedosporium species (n = 2), Aspergillus species (n = 1), and one unidentifiable mold. The number of isolated Fusarium species in ionized water samples (0.5% (1/203)) was statistically lower than those in nonionized (3.2% (6/189)) (p = 0.003). Our finding may determine if this ionization method can be applied for control of waterborne fungi colonization in hospital water systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Chinese Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Chen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chun-Eng
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Maw-Soan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Soon
authors.forename: Ching-Shan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D003300:Copper