Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9925875 | American Journal of Infection Control | 2005 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
One medical center in southern Taiwan faced an outbreak of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease; a total of 81 suspected cases were detected during an 8-month period. Baseline environmental surveillance showed that 80% of the distal sites in intensive care units (ICUs) were positive for Legionella pneumophila. Superheat-and-flush was selected for hospital water supply disinfection because it required no special equipment, and it can be initiated expeditiously. We conducted 2 episodes of superheat-and-flush based on the published recommendations from the Department of Health, Taiwan; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Both flushes failed to control colonization of Legionella in the hospital water supply. The rate of distal sites positive for Legionella in wards and ICUs was 14% and 66%, respectively, 10 days after the second flush. The effect of replacement of faucets and showerheads in ICUs appeared to be insignificant in colonization of Legionella. The application of superheat-and-flush for flush duration of 5 minutes was ineffective. Superheat-and-flush may not be economic for a large medical center because it could be costly and labor intensive.
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Authors
Yao-shen MD, Yung-ching MD, Susan Shin-jung MD, Hung-chin MD, Shue-ren MD, Chih-hsiang MD, Chiao-lin BS, Wen-kuei MS, Tsi-shu MS, Hsueh-Lan RN, Ching-hsien RN, Chin-mei RN, Yu-sen Eason PhD, MBA,