The hospital tap water system as a source of nosocomial infections for staff members and patients in West Bank hospitals

Abstract

The number of nosocomial infections due to Legionella pneumophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is probably underestimated in many countries. This article discusses the risk of legionellosis due to Legionella and P. aeruginosa for patients and hospitals staff members from the water system in different Palestinian hospitals. A total of 134 water samples were collected in 2005 from six governmental hospitals located in the West Bank. L. pneumophila serogroup 2–14 was isolated from 33 of 53 samples, and P. aeruginosa was isolated from 17 of 81 before thermal disinfection. Thermal disinfection at 80◦C and progressively flushing the hot water outlets around the system was successfully efficient to eliminate Legionella and P. aeruginosa pathogens in water distribution systems. The current study is an example of how microbiological methods and site history may be used to successfully track the source of bacterial water contamination and subsequently remediate it. Thorough contaminant characterization and forensic source identification is important for designing of appropriate management strategies.