Surveillance of hospital water systems to help predict the risk of nosocomial legionellosis—Consider other factors

To the Editor—We read with interest the study by Nagy et al ¹ in which they used a statistical fit test to support recommendations on the proportion of positive Legionella tests to indicate a well-maintained or a well-treated water distribution system. They concluded that surveillance showing a rate of ≤30% water samples positive for Legionella spp provided some reassurance. However, some consideration needs to be given to the healthcare facility, the proportion of at-risk patients and the laboratory diagnosis of clinical cases. ² Furthermore, there may be a role for considering how heavy the bioburden is in positive water outlet samples and even possibly the Legionella spp.

Beaumont Hospital is a tertiary-care referral center in Ireland with national specialties in renal transplantation, neurosurgery, cochlear implantation, and several other complex specialties. We have an ongoing multidisciplinary team that oversees and delivers a legionellosis prevention program that includes surveillance and the maintenance of a complex hospital facility that is >30 years old. This surveillance includes a range of engineering controls (eg, active review of pipework and removal of dead legs); barcoding of assets; active cloud-based temperature checks on the water system; a comprehensive flushing program; and a blended approach to chemical water treatment with chlorine dioxide, copper silver, and anolyte (a positively charged form of chlorine). Our water outlet sampling regimen includes taking 160 samples per month and following up on any positive outlet to optimize operational conditions with retesting until negative. We treat individual water outlets even if the counts are low and whatever the Legionella spp because of the increasingly complex case mix in our hospital. In recent years, we have seen the proportion of water samples positive for any Legionella spp decline from >30% to <2.5%.

European guidelines are very general in terms of sampling; they recommend “periodic sampling and testing for the presence of Legionella based on risk assessment.” ³ They further recommend that the sensitivity of laboratory methods should be capable of detecting counts of 100 CFU/L or less but that the results should be appropriately interpreted. ³ Irish guidelines are more specific and include recommendations on sample types, laboratory analysis and action to be taken if an outlet is positive (eg, if >1,000 CFU/L), control measures, and disinfection of the positive water plus resampling. ⁴ However, they do emphasize that “Sampling is not a substitute for good maintenance practices and water treatment.” ⁴

Stout et al ⁵ originally identified the correlation between cases of nosocomial legionellosis and ≥30% of outlets being positive. It seems plausible to assume that the more outlets that are positive, the greater the likelihood of nosocomial legionellosis. However, like most infections, healthcare-acquired legionellosis is multifactorial and will be influenced by the vulnerability or susceptibility of the patient (eg, underlying immunosuppression), how the patient is exposed to water (ie, via aerosols), potentially how heavy the bioburden is in the water outlet, and the species. Although we have traditionally regarded Legionella pneumophilia (especially serogroup 1) as the most pathogenic, other serogroups and species may potentially infect susceptible patients, and some general medical and surgical patients are increasingly on biological agents (eg, for inflammatory bowel disease).

Although we do not disagree with the suggestions and recommendations from Nagy et al, we urge caution in overly relying on the proportion of water outlets positive for Legionella as indicating a relatively lower risk of legionellosis. However, further studies are required to determine the influence of case mix, the number and frequency of surveillance samples taken, where they are taken (eg, the clinical area and water outlet such as shower versus hand-wash basin), existing and ongoing preventative measures, and both the bioburden and Legionella species.