Rate of Legionella pneumophila colonization in hospital hot water network after time flow taps installation

Abstract

In hospital water systems legionellae may be resistant to disinfectants in pipework, which is a problem particularly in areas where there is low flow or stagnation of water. We evaluated legionella colonization of a water network of an Italian hospital after time flow taps (TFTs) installation in proximity to dead legs. The water volume flushed was 64 L/day from May 2016, and 192 L/day from December 2016. Before TFTs installation, Legionella pneumophila sg2-14 was detected in all points (4 × 10⁴ ± 3.1 × 10⁴ cfu/L). All sites remained positive (2.9 × 10⁴ ± 1.9 × 10⁴ cfu/L) through November 2016. From December 2016 legionella persisted in one point only (2 × 10² to 6.8 × 10³ cfu/L). TFTs with chemical disinfection may reduce legionella colonization associated with dead legs.

Keywords: Chlorine dioxide; Hospital water network; Legionella; Time flow taps.