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Euro Surveill. Contamination of the cold water distribution system of health care facilities by Legionella pneumophila: Do we know the true dimension?
[Source: Eurosurveillance, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Eurosurveillance, Volume 16, Issue 16, 21 April 2011
Research articles
Contamination of the cold water distribution system of health care facilities by Legionella pneumophila: Do we know the true dimension?
M Arvand <SUP>1</SUP>, K Jungkind<SUP>2</SUP>, A Hack<SUP>1</SUP>
Citation style for this article: Arvand M, Jungkind K, Hack A. Contamination of the cold water distribution system of health care facilities by Legionella pneumophila: Do we know the true dimension?. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(16):pii=19844. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=19844
Date of submission: 18 January 2011 <HR>
German water guidelines do not recommend routine assessment of cold water for Legionella in healthcare facilities, except if the water temperature at distal sites exceeds 25 °C. This study evaluates Legionella contamination in cold and warm water supplies of healthcare facilities in Hesse, Germany, and analyses the relationship between cold water temperature and Legionella contamination. Samples were collected from four facilities, with cases of healthcare-associated Legionnaires´ disease or notable contamination of their water supply. Fifty-nine samples were from central lines and 625 from distal sites, comprising 316 cold and 309 warm water samples. Legionella was isolated from central lines in two facilities and from distal sites in four facilities. 17% of all central and 32% of all distal samples were contaminated. At distal sites, cold water samples were more frequently contaminated with Legionella (40% vs 23%, p <0.001) and with higher concentrations of Legionella (≥1,000 colony-forming unit/100 ml) (16% vs 6%, p<0.001) than warm water samples. There was no clear correlation between the cold water temperature at sampling time and the contamination rate. 35% of cold water samples under 20 °C at collection were contaminated. Our data highlight the importance of assessing the cold water supply of healthcare facilities for Legionella in the context of an intensified analysis.
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Research articles
Contamination of the cold water distribution system of health care facilities by Legionella pneumophila: Do we know the true dimension?
M Arvand <SUP>1</SUP>, K Jungkind<SUP>2</SUP>, A Hack<SUP>1</SUP>
- Hesse State Health Office, Centre for Health Protection, Dillenburg, Germany
- Communal Health Office of the Wetteraukreis, Friedberg, Germany
Citation style for this article: Arvand M, Jungkind K, Hack A. Contamination of the cold water distribution system of health care facilities by Legionella pneumophila: Do we know the true dimension?. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(16):pii=19844. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=19844
Date of submission: 18 January 2011 <HR>
German water guidelines do not recommend routine assessment of cold water for Legionella in healthcare facilities, except if the water temperature at distal sites exceeds 25 °C. This study evaluates Legionella contamination in cold and warm water supplies of healthcare facilities in Hesse, Germany, and analyses the relationship between cold water temperature and Legionella contamination. Samples were collected from four facilities, with cases of healthcare-associated Legionnaires´ disease or notable contamination of their water supply. Fifty-nine samples were from central lines and 625 from distal sites, comprising 316 cold and 309 warm water samples. Legionella was isolated from central lines in two facilities and from distal sites in four facilities. 17% of all central and 32% of all distal samples were contaminated. At distal sites, cold water samples were more frequently contaminated with Legionella (40% vs 23%, p <0.001) and with higher concentrations of Legionella (≥1,000 colony-forming unit/100 ml) (16% vs 6%, p<0.001) than warm water samples. There was no clear correlation between the cold water temperature at sampling time and the contamination rate. 35% of cold water samples under 20 °C at collection were contaminated. Our data highlight the importance of assessing the cold water supply of healthcare facilities for Legionella in the context of an intensified analysis.
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