title: Nosocomial (Health Care-Associated) Legionnaire's Disease.
abstract: Nosocomial Legionnaire's disease is most frequently associated with presence of the organism in hospital water systems. Patients are often susceptible as a result of age, underlying comorbidities, or immunosuppression. Prevention focuses on reducing the reservoir within water systems and includes super heating, ultraviolent light, chlorination, silver-copper ionization, and distal filtration. This article reviews the epidemiology of health care-associated Legionnaire's disease, reviews characteristics of several health care-associated outbreaks, and discusses strategies to prevent health care-associated infection.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Division, Summa Health, 1077 Forge Boulevard, Akron, OH 44310, USA; Department of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4029 Street Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA.
authors.forename: Shanu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Clinical Safety, Summa Akron City and St. Thomas Hospitals, 525 East Market Street, Akron, OH 44309-2090, USA.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Abell
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Division, Summa Health, 1077 Forge Boulevard, Akron, OH 44310, USA; Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Section, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 4029 Street Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA. Electronic address: filet@summahealth.org.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: File
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014871:Water Microbiology
keywords: Health care–associated; Legionella; Nosocomial; Outbreaks; Prevention