Legionella colonisation in hot water systems in care homes from two Danish municipalities

Author:

Nilsen Niss Skov1ORCID,Uldum Søren Anker2

Affiliation:

1. a Danish Building Research Institute (Build), Division of Sustainability, Energy and Indoor Environment in Buildings, Aalborg University, A.C. Meyers Vaenge 15, 2450 Copenhagen SV, Denmark

2. b Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark

Abstract

Abstract Legionnaires' disease is a serious health risk among the elderly. Water systems in care homes are therefore of particular interest. We investigated the levels of culturable Legionella in the hot water systems in care homes in two Danish municipalities. Two hundred and sixty-eight water samples from 98 care homes were evaluated. Contents of culturable Legionella counts were calculated, and correlations between temperature and colony-forming units (CFU/L) were analysed. Seventy-seven and 81%, respectively, of the care homes were colonised with Legionella in the two municipalities. Most care homes had less than 1,000 CFU/L, but 13 and 16% had more than 10,000 CFU/L. When including first flush samples, 27% of the care homes in Municipality 1 had Legionella levels above 10,000 CFU/L. Temperatures of ≥50 °C in Municipality 1 and ≥55 °C in Municipality 2 correlated with low levels of Legionella. The content of Legionella colonies was significantly higher in care homes in Municipality 1. However, a significantly higher proportion of taps in Municipality 2 had Legionella colonies. In conclusion, temperatures should be raised to 55 °C to avoid high Legionella levels. Test procedures should be evaluated, and the regular use of taps and routine testing for Legionella should be taken into consideration.

Publisher

IWA Publishing

Subject

Infectious Diseases,Microbiology (medical),Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Waste Management and Disposal,Water Science and Technology

Reference27 articles.

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3. Danish Building Research Institute (Build) 2019 Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Danish Technological Institute (DTI), Danish Patient Safety Board (STPS), Danish Transport, Construction and Housing Authority (DTCHA) (2019). Legionalla i danske vandsystemer (Legionella in Danish hot Water Systems). SBI Report No. 2019:10.

4. Danish Technological Institute (DTI) 2019 Legionella – installationsprincipper og bekæmpelsesmetoder (Legionella, Installation Principles and Prevention Methods). Available from: https://www.teknologisk.dk/_/media/74890_R%F8rcenter-anvisning%20017.%20Legionella.pdf (accessed 22 April 2022).

5. Danva 2018 Vand i tal. Statistik og benchmarking (Water in Numbers. Statistics and Benchmarking). Available from: https://www.danva.dk/media/5002/2018_vand-i-tal.pdf (accessed 22 April 2022).

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