journal articles
LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE IN NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES: AN EMERGING CATASTROPHE
Y.E. Lin, V.L. Yu
Jour Nursing Home Res 2015;1:28-32
Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ diseases in nursing homes and longterm care facilities have become increasingly cited in newspaper and television reports especially when deaths are involved. News reports can lead to unsubstantiated rumors and widespread disruption of services. A sense of panic can lead to adoption by the facility of expensive, short-term measures that are unscientific and expensive. The worst case scenario is that the measures will also be found to be useless. We present an evidence-based approach that has been successful and cost-effective in longterm care facilities. Environmental cultures of the drinking water for Legionella within the nursing home and longterm care facility is a necessary first step. Infection control personnel should make the key decisions in management of the outbreak. Healthcare facility managers and outside water treatment consultants often make costly and expensive recommendations that will be proven ineffective over time.
CITATION:
Y.E. Lin ; V.L. Yu (2015): Legionnaires’ Disease in Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities: An Emerging Catastrophe. The Journal of Nursing Home Research Science (JNHRS). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jnhrs.2015.6