Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-8mjnm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T10:39:20.068Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Legionella in the Hospital Water Supply A Plea for Decision Making Based on Evidence-Based Medicine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Janet E. Stout
Affiliation:
Special Pathogens Laboratory and Infectious Disease Section, VA Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Victor L. Yu*
Affiliation:
Special Pathogens Laboratory and Infectious Disease Section, VA Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*
VA Medical Center, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Image of the first page of this content. For PDF version, please use the ‘Save PDF’ preceeding this image.'
Type
Editorial
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2001

References

1.Sabria, M, Garcia-Nunez, M, Pedro-Botet, ML, Sopena, N, Gimeno, JM, Reynaga, E, et al.Presence and chromosomal subtyping of Legionella species in potable water systems in 20 hospitals of Catalonia, Spain. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2001;22:673676.Google Scholar
2.Kohler, JR, Maiwald, M, Luck, PC, Helbig, JH, Hingst, V, Sontag, HG. Detecting legionellosis by unselected culture of respiratory tract secretions and developing links to hospital water strains. J Hosp Infect 1999;41:301311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Kool, JL, Bergmire-Sweat, D, Butler, JC, Brown, EW, Peabody, DJ, Massi, DS, et al.Hospital characteristics associated with colonization of water systems by Legionella and risk of nosocomial legionnaires' disease: a cohort study of 15 hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:798805.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Best, M, Yu, VL, Stout, J, Goetz, A, Muder, RR, Taylor, F. Legionellaceae in the hospital water supply: epidemiological link with disease and evaluation of a method of control of nosocomial legionnaires' disease and Pittsburgh pneumonia. Lancet 1983;2:307310.Google Scholar
5.White, C. The deadly glitz of a grand new hospital. Business Week [online]. November 5, 2001. (www.businessweek.com)Google Scholar
6.Liu, WK, Healing, DE, Yeomans, JT, Elliot, TS. Monitoring of hospital water supplies for Legionella. J Hosp Infect 1993;24:19.Google Scholar
7.Marrie, T, Green, T, Burbridge, S. Legionellaceae in the potable water of Nova Scotia hospital and Halifax residences. Epidemiol Infect 1994;112:143150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Muder, RR, Yu, VL, McClure, J, Kominos, S. Nosocomial legionnaires' disease uncovered in a prospective pneumonia study: implications for underdiagnosis. JAMA 1983;249:31843188.Google Scholar
9.Rudin, JE, Wing, EJ. A comparative study of Legionella micdadei and other nosocomial acquired pneumonia. Chest 1984;86:875880.Google Scholar
10.Johnson, JT, Yu, VL, Best, M, Vickers, RM, Goetz, A, Wagner, R, et al.Nosocomial legionellosis uncovered in surgical patients with head and neck cancer: implications for epidemiologic reservoir and mode of transmission. Lancet 1985;2:298300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Yu, VL, Beam, TR Jr, Lumish, RM, Vickers, RM, Fleming, J, McDermott, C, et al.Routine culturing for Legionella in the hospital environment may be a good idea: a three-hospital prospective study. Am J Med Sci 1987;294:9799.Google Scholar
12.Goetz, AM, Stout, JE, Jacobs, SL, Fisher, MA, Ponzer, RE, Drenning, S, et al.Nosocomial legionnaires' disease discovered in community hospitals following cultures of the water system: seek and ye shall find. Am J Infect Control 1998;26:611.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Besser, R. Eye on America investigation [transcript], CBS News. December 15, 2000.Google Scholar
14.Freije, MR. Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk. Indianapolis, IN: HC Information Resources, Inc; 1996.Google Scholar
15.State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Report of the Maryland Scientific Working Group to Study Legionella in Water Systems in Healthcare Institutions. Baltimore, MD: State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; June 14, 2000.Google Scholar
16.Allegheny County Health Department. Approaches to Prevention and Control of Legionella Infection in Allegheny County Health Care Facilities. 2nd ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Allegheny County Health Department; 1997:115.Google Scholar
17.Ta, AC, Stout, JE, Yu, VL, Wagener, MM. Comparison of culture methods for monitoring Legionella species in hospital potable water systems and recommendations for standardization of such methods. J Clin Microbiol 1995;33:21182123.Google Scholar
18.Joly, JR, Alary, M. Occurrence of nosocomial legionnaires' disease in hospitals with contaminated potable water supply. In: Barbaree, JM, Breiman, RF, Dufour, AP, eds. Legionella. Current Status and Emerging Perspectives. Washington, DC: ASM Press; 1994;39.Google Scholar
19.Fiore, AE, Butler, JC, Emori, TG, Gaynes, RP. A survey of methods to detect nosocomial legionellosis among participants in the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:412416.Google Scholar
20.Mansfield, SD, Bezanson, GS. Characterization and cloning of a 37-kb plasmid carried by L. pneumophila recovered from patients and hospital water over a 12-year period. Can J Microbiol 1997;43:193197.Google Scholar
21.Lawrence, C, Reyrolle, M, Dubrou, S, Forey, F, Decludt, B, Goulvestre, C, et al.Single clonal origin of a high proportion of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates from patients and the environment in the area of Paris, France, over a 10-year period. J Clin Microbiol 1999;37:26522655.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Rangel-Frausto, MS, Rhomberg, P, Hollis, RJ, Pfaller, MA, Wenzel, RP, Helms, CM, et al.Persistence of Legionella pneumophila in a hospital's water system: a 13-year survey. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:793797.Google Scholar
23.Lin, YE, Vidic, RD, Stout, JE, Yu, VL. Legionella in water distribution systems. Journal of the American Water Works Association 1998;90:112121.Google Scholar
24.Stout, JE, Lin, LE, Yu, VL. Survey of hospitals using copper-silver ionization for the control of Legionella. 5th International Conference on Legionella; Ulm, Germany; 2001. Abstract P80.Google Scholar