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 Nosocomial
infections linked to Legionella, also called Hospital-acquired Legionnaires’
disease, has been reported from many hospitals since 1976.
Although cooling towers were linked to the cases of Legionnaires’
disease in the years after its discovery, potable water has been
the environmental source for almost all reported hospital outbreaks.
Microaspiration is the major mode of transmission in hospital-acquired
Legionnaires’ disease; showering is not a mode of transmission.
Since the clinical manifestations are non-specific, and specialized
laboratory testing is required, hospital-acquired legionellosis
is easily under diagnosed.
Discovery of a single case of hospital-acquired
Legionnaires’ disease is an important sentinel of additional
undiscovered cases. Routine environmental culture of the hospital
water supply for Legionella has proven to be an important strategy
in prevention. Documentation of Legionella colonisation in the water
supply would increase physician index of suspicion for Legionnaires’
disease and the necessity for in-house Legionella test methods would
be obvious.
Legionella is a common commensal of large-building
water supplies. Preventive maintenance is commonly recommended;
unfortunately, this measure is ineffective in minimising legionella
colonisation of building water supplies. Copper-silver ionisation
systems have emerged as the most successful long-term disinfection
method for hospital water disinfection systems. There is a need
for public health agencies to educate the public and media that
discovery of cases identifies those hospitals as providers of superior
care, and that such hospitals are not negligent.
We
look forward to providing you with our top quality copper/silver
ionisators specifically built for cooling towers and hot - cold
water systems found in hospitals, nursing homes and other buildings
with large water distribution networks.
ProCare
Water Treatment Inc.
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