Prospective 3-Year Surveillance for Nosocomial and Environmental<i>Legionella pneumophila</i>: Implications for Infection Control

Abstract

The low incidence of nosocomial cases of LD appears to be associated with a low percentage (<20%) of positive water samples per semester and with a low contamination level (<10(2) colony-forming units/L). An infection control system for nosocomial LD should, therefore, be based on both environmental and clinical surveillance, together with the appropriate maintenance of the hospital water distribution system.