The University of Pitsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), in the USA has traced isolated outbreaks of Legionella to ice machines. One patient died and 2 others became sick. Hospital management carried out tests on the ice machines after sleuthing suggested that the patients might have aspirated ice chips provided by ice machines in the hospitals. This is highly unusual as the Legionella bacterium is widely believed not to grow under 20degrees C. It does of course survive quite nicely below these temperatures and will grow as soon as things warm up. It seems that water is stored in some ice machines before ice making and could be warmed by proximity to a compressor.
Further research indicated that 20% of 500 ice machines in 20 hospitals carried the lethal Legionella bacterium. The infected machines have been removed and all machines have been sterilized.
Apparently it has been known for 20 years that ice machines can harbour Legionella, but there are no protocols available and not all machines use filters. So who is monitoring how well things are being managed?
The easiest way to control if Legionella is present in the water system is to test. however, traditional testing techniques take 10 to 14 days to return results and are often inaccurate. Fortunately, alternative and innovative products start to emerge in the Legionella Testing Sector.
Find Out More About Legionella Testing Methods Available on the Market
