Efficacy of chlorine dioxide disinfection to non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli and non-tuberculous mycobacteria in a hospital water system

Summary Background Chlorinated tap water in hospitals often contains low levels of non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Measures are needed to ensure a safe water supply in hospitals to prevent nosocomial infections from these waterborne pathogens. A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hospital infection 2016-05, Vol.93 (1), p.22-28
Main Authors: Hsu, M.-S, Wu, M.-Y, Huang, Y.-T, Liao, C.-H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chlorine Compounds - pharmacology
Chlorine dioxide
Disinfectants - pharmacology
Disinfection - methods
Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects
Hospitals
Infection Control - methods
Infectious Disease
Non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - drug effects
Oxides - pharmacology
Water disinfection
Water Microbiology
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Summary:Summary Background Chlorinated tap water in hospitals often contains low levels of non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Measures are needed to ensure a safe water supply in hospitals to prevent nosocomial infections from these waterborne pathogens. Aim To evaluate the efficacy of ClO2 treatment of a hospital water system on the levels of NFGNB and NTM in the water. Methods Our institution is a 1000-bed medical centre with two main buildings (B1 and B2). B1 has three intensive care units (ICUs) and transplant wards and polyethylene water pipes. B2 (control) has no ICUs and galvanized water pipes. A ClO2 generating unit was installed in the water system of B1 in April 2012 and water samples were collected in B1 and B2 before and eight times after installation. All samples were cultured for NFGNB and NTM. Findings The ClO2 concentration was significantly lower in the hot water than in the cold water ( P < 0.001). After 40 weeks of ClO2 use, the overall NFGNB colonies decreased significantly (hot water: 160 ± 143 vs 2 ± 4 cfu/mL, P < 0.001; cold water: 108 ± 138 vs 3 ± 7 cfu/mL, P < 0.001). Highly prevalent nosocomial NFGNB, such as Pseudomonas spp. and Stenotrophomonas spp., were undetected three months after ClO2 disinfection; Sphingomonas spp. persisted but had lower colony counts. NTM was present in 25% (three out of 12) of sampling locations initially, but was not detected at two weeks after ClO2 disinfection. The ICUs had no overall change in the number of NFGNB nosocomial infections after the intervention. Conclusion Addition of a ClO2 disinfection unit to our hospital water system reduced the numbers of NTM and NFGNB in the hot and cold water systems.
ISSN:0195-6701
1532-2939
DOI:10.1016/j.jhin.2016.01.005