Water Treatment Articles

Although copper-silver ionization has been shown to be effective in controlling Legionella colonization in hospital water systems, efficacy against other waterborne pathogens has been unclear.  This study demonstrates that ionization may also have the potential to eradicate P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia and A. baumannii from hospital water systems.

In vitro efficacy of copper and silver ions in eradicating Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumannii: Implications for on-site disinfection for hospital infection control.
Huang HI, Shih HY, Lee CM, Yang TC, Lay JJ, Lin YE.
Water Res. 2007 Jul 12 [Epub ahead of print]

The number of hospitals colonized with Legionella is between 20-70%.  This article demonstrates that up to 60% commercial buildings may also be colonized, particularly when chlorine is the disinfectant used by the municipality. Conversion from chlorine to monochloramine reduced colonization.

Reducing Legionella colonization in water systems with monochloramine.
Flannery B, Gelling LB, Vugia DJ, Weintraub JM, Salerno JJ, Conroy MJ, Stevens VA, Rose CE, Moore MR, Fields BS, Besser RE. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Apr;12(4):588-96.

Engineering Articles

Stagnation is widely believed to predispose water systems to colonization by Legionella. This paper shows that this long-held belief may be incorrect. 

Effect of flow regimes on the presence of Legionella within the biofilm of a model plumbing system.
Liu Z, Lin YE, Stout JE, Hwang CC, Vidic RD, Yu VL.
J Appl Microbiol. 2006 Aug;101(2):437-42.