"Experiences Of The First 16 Hospitals Using Copper-Silver

Ionization For Legionella Control: Implications For The Evaluation Of Other Disinfection Modalities"

Vol. 24 No. 8 Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Janet E. Stout, PhD; Victor L. Yu, MD

The "Conclusions" of the "Experiences of the First 16 Hospitals Using Copper-Silver Ionization for Legionella Control: Implications for the Evaluation of other disinfection modalities" state "This study represents the final step in a proposed 4-step evaluation process of disinfection systems that includes (1) demonstrated efficacy of Legionella eradication in vitro using laboratory assays, (2) anecdotal experiences in preventing legionnaires' disease in individual hospitals, (3) controlled studies in individual hospitals, and (4) validation in confirmatory reports from multiple hospitals during a prolonged time (5 to 11 years in this study). Copper-silver ionization is now the only disinfection modality to have fulfilled all four evaluation criteria (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:563-568)."

"Advantages of copper-silver ionization are that it is more cost-effective than hyperchlorination, is easier to maintain, and does not corrode piping or plumbing fixtures, and in the events of mechanical failure, recontamination is delayed for weeks, allowing a safety buffer.33-35 In contrast, if a chlorinator fails, recontamination occurs rapidly. Copper-silver ionization systems proved effective in 75% (12 of 16) of the institutions in which thermal eradication, hyperchlorination, or both had proven unsatisfactory."

All of the Copper-Silver Ionization Systems used in the first 16 Hospitals in the United States were Tarn-Pure ™ Systems.

Full Study (PDF)