Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Use of Galleria mellonella as a Model Organism to Study Legionella pneumophila Infection
Published on: November 22, 2013
Prevention of Legionnaires' disease in hospitals
Marjut Sarjomaa1, Per Urdahl, Einar Ramsli
1Medical Clinic, Telemark Central Hospital, Skien, Norway. marjut.anneli.sarjomaa@sthf.no
Background:
The first instance of Legionella infection in a Norwegian hospital was confirmed in 2005. We describe the best-known methods of eradicating Legionella in hospitals.
Materials And Method:
The article is based on the authors' experience of measures to prevent Legionnaires' disease in hospitals and on a non-systematic search in PubMed.
Results:
There are several methods of combating Legionella in hospitals. These include chlorination, heat treatment, and the use of filters. However, recontamination easily re-occurs after eradication. The silver and copper ionisation treatment of water is a well-documented method for the systematic and long-term eradication of Legionella in water. The disadvantages of this method are that it is expensive, that there is a risk of discolouring the water, and that there is a possibility of developing resistance in environmental bacteria. This resistance mechanism can theoretically be transferred to bacteria that cause illness.
Interpretation:
We recommend the silver and copper ionisation treatment of water as a method of preventing nosocomial Legionnaires' disease when standard methods fail and there is a high prevalence of Legionella in the water. The discolouration of operation instruments that occurs as a result of high silver concentrations can be avoided by using a separate water supply for operation units.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...