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  • Title: Prevention of Legionnaires' disease in hospitals.
    Author: Sarjomaa M, Urdahl P, Ramsli E, Borchgrevink-Lund CF, Ask E.
    Journal: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen; 2011 Aug 23; 131(16):1554-7. PubMed ID: 21866196.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The first instance of Legionella infection in a Norwegian hospital was confirmed in 2005. We describe the best-known methods of eradicating Legionella in hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The article is based on the authors' experience of measures to prevent Legionnaires' disease in hospitals and on a non-systematic search in PubMed. RESULTS: There are several methods of combating Legionella in hospitals. These include chlorination, heat treatment, and the use of filters. However, recontamination easily re-occurs after eradication. The silver and copper ionisation treatment of water is a well-documented method for the systematic and long-term eradication of Legionella in water. The disadvantages of this method are that it is expensive, that there is a risk of discolouring the water, and that there is a possibility of developing resistance in environmental bacteria. This resistance mechanism can theoretically be transferred to bacteria that cause illness. INTERPRETATION: We recommend the silver and copper ionisation treatment of water as a method of preventing nosocomial Legionnaires' disease when standard methods fail and there is a high prevalence of Legionella in the water. The discolouration of operation instruments that occurs as a result of high silver concentrations can be avoided by using a separate water supply for operation units.
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