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Determinants of Legionella pneumophila Contamination of Water Distribution Systems: 15-Hospital Prospective Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Richard M. Vickers ,
Victor L. Yu ,
S. Sue Hanna ,
Paul Muraca ,
Warren Diven ,
Neil Carmen  and
Floyd B. Taylor
Richard M. Vickers
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Victor L. Yu*
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
S. Sue Hanna
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Paul Muraca
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Warren Diven
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Neil Carmen
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Floyd B. Taylor
Affiliation:
Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*
Infectious Disease Section, VA Medical Center, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
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Abstract

We conducted a prospective environmental study for Legionella pneumophila in 15 hospitals in Pennsylvania. Hot water tanks, cold water sites, faucets, and show-erheads were surveyed four times over a one-year period. Sixty percent (9/15) of hospitals surveyed were contaminated with L pneumophila. Although contamination could not be linked to a specific municipal water supplier, most of the contaminated supplies came from rivers. Parameters found to be significantly associated with contamination included elevated hot water temperature, vertical configuration of the hot water tank, older tanks, and elevated calcium and magnesium concentrations of the water (P < 0.05). This study suggests that L pneumophila contamination could be predicted based on design of the distribution system, as well as physicochemical characteristics of the water.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 8 , Issue 9 , September 1987 , pp. 357 - 363
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1987

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