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Treatment of a Legionella pneumophila-Colonized Water Distribution System Using Copper-Silver Ionization and Continuous Chlorination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Amaya Biurrun ,
Luis Caballero ,
Carmen Pelaz ,
Elena León  and
Alberto Gago
Amaya Biurrun*
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Microbiology National Center, Carlos III Health Institute, Majadahondd (Madrid), Spain
Luis Caballero
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Microbiology National Center, Carlos III Health Institute, Majadahondd (Madrid), Spain
Carmen Pelaz
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, Microbiology National Center, Carlos III Health Institute, Majadahondd (Madrid), Spain
Elena León
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Microbiology National Center, Carlos III Health Institute, Majadahondd (Madrid), Spain
Alberto Gago
Affiliation:
Nta Sra del Prado Hospital, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Microbiology National Center, Carlos III Health Institute, Majadahondd (Madrid), Spain
*
Hospital Nta Sra del Prado, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Crta de Madrid, Km 114, 45600 Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), Spain
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Abstract

The detection in April 1997 of a case of nosocomial legionellosis in our hospital led to the discovery that both our hot- and cold-water circuits were heavily colonized with Legionella pneumophila. Conventional methods for eradication of the organisms were unsuccessful, so a copper-silver (Cu-Ag) ionization system and a continuous chlorination system were installed. Five months later, the number of colonized sites decreased from an initial 58.3% to 16.7%.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 20 , Issue 6 , June 1999 , pp. 426 - 428
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

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