BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospital-acquired @entity4502 can be prevented by disinfection of hospital water systems. This study assessed the long-term efficacy of @entity53073 as a disinfection method in controlling Legionella in hospital water systems and reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired @entity4502 . A standardized, evidence-based approach to assist hospitals with decision making concerning the possible purchase of a disinfection system is presented. DESIGN: The first 16 hospitals to install @entity53073 systems for Legionella disinfection were surveyed. Surveys conducted in 1995 and 2000 documented the experiences of the hospitals with maintenance of the system, contamination of water with Legionella, and occurrence of hospital-acquired @entity4502 . All were acute care hospitals with a mean of 435 beds. RESULTS: All 16 hospitals reported cases of hospital-acquired @entity4502 prior to installing the @entity53073 system. Seventy-five percent had previously attempted other disinfection methods including superheat and flush, ultraviolet light, and hyperchlorination. By 2000, the ionization systems had been operational from 5 to 11 years. Prior to installation, 47% of the hospitals reported that more than 30% of distal water sites yielded Legionella. In 1995, after installation, 50% of the hospitals reported 0% positivity, and 43% still reported 0% in 2000. Moreover, no cases of hospital-acquired @entity4502 have occurred in any hospital since 1995. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the final step in a proposed 4-step evaluation process of disinfection systems that includes (1) demonstrated efficacy of Legionella eradication in vitro using laboratory assays, (2) anecdotal experiences in preventing @entity4502 in individual hospitals, (3) controlled studies in individual hospitals, and (4) validation in confirmatory reports from multiple hospitals during a prolonged time (5 to 11 years in this study). Copper-silver ionization is now the only disinfection modality to have fulfilled all four evaluation criteria.

Experiences of the first 16 hospitals using XXXX for Legionella control: implications for the evaluation of other disinfection modalities.

@entity53073 :: ('MESH:C535468', 'Disease') :: ['copper-silver ionization'] @entity4502 :: ('MESH:D007877', 'Disease') :: ["legionnaires' disease"]
@entity53073 :: (MESH:C535468,Disease) :: ['copper-silver ionization']
