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Representative Survey of the Scope of Legionnaires’ Disease and of Diagnostic Methods and Transmission Control Practices in Germany, Page 1 of 2
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Abstract:
This chapter provides a representative overview of the scope of Legionnaire's disease (LD) and assess the type and frequency of implemented diagnostic methods and transmission control practices. A questionnaire was sent to the clinical directors (with two reminders) of each selected hospital. The anonymous survey included questions about hospital demographics (type of hospital, bed count, presence of risk patients [neonates, oncological, transplanted, HIV positive, and immunsuppressed ICU patients]), episodes of nosocomial and community-acquired LD in the past 5 years, diagnostic testing for LD, environmental sampling practices and the results obtained, as well as questions about prophylactic measurements and maintenance of hospital water systems in general and especially for high-risk patients. 56 out of 60 (93%) of the hospitals sample their water (peripheral and/or central) for Legionella, 31 (55%) with positive results. Of the two hospitals reporting nosocomial LD, only one had positive sampling results, while the other one did not detect Legionella. Considering the high costs of testing for Legionella and for LD prevention, further research is indicated to establish standard procedures concerning low- and high-risk patients.
Citation:
Eckmanns T, Poorbiazar M, Rüden H, Fritz L.
2006.
Representative Survey of the Scope of Legionnaires’ Disease and of Diagnostic Methods and Transmission Control Practices in Germany,
p 132-134.
In
Cianciotto N, Kwaik Y, Edelstein P, Fields B, Geary D, Harrison T, Joseph C, Ratcliff R, Stout J, Swanson M (ed),
Legionella.
ASM Press, Washington, DC.
doi: 10.1128/9781555815660.ch35
