Pathogens In Ice Makers

  • Ice Machines – A Breeding Ground for Legionella,
    Bacteria, Slime and BiofilmIce Machines and Pathogens

    • Bacteria known to contaminate ice makers:
      • Legionella
      • Cholera
      • Typhoid fever
      • Salmonella
      • E. coli
      • Shigella
      • Mycobacterium
    • Legionella is among several bacteria that have been isolated from ice machine water dispensers and ice.
    • While the presence of these bacteria, listed above, in ice is generally not a significant risk for disease transmission, those who are severely ill, immunocompromised and bedridden are at most risk.
    • These high risk patients or guests, are at a greater risk profile for aspiration-fluids entering the upper airway to the lung by way of choking or by micro-aspiration. Legionnaires’ disease has been shown to occur following documented episodes of aspiration.
    • Outbreaks of Legionella healthcare-associated infections have been largely related to poor water maintenance, contaminated potable water, ice machines, aspiration of feeding tubes and the poor design and planning of hospital systems.
    • One study found that Legionella could be isolated from more than 50% of potable water supplies and more than 10% of distilled water supplies in hospitals.
    • Testing has revealed Legionella in about 20 percent of ice machines. A normal healthcare facility will have at least 80 ice machines on site.
    • How does Legionella bacterium, which typically grows best in warm water,Ice Machines and Pathogens
      grow in the cold water used in the ice machine? Ice machines contain a water reservoir located next to a compressor, which can heat up enough to warm the water in the reservoir and allow the growth of Legionella. These ice machines, without a 0.2 µm POU filter for pathogen removal, have resulted in patient deaths and ongoing sickness.
    • While the presence of these bacteria in ice is generally not a significant risk for disease transmission, those who are severely ill, immunocompromised and bedridden are the most vulnerable.
    • Research confirms ice machines as a potential source of exposure for some cases of Legionnaires’ disease. Various studies have showed that while ice dispensers are supplied with cold water, the condenser/compressor can heat the piping inside the machine and warm the cold water enough to support bacterial growth.
    • Water stored below 20°C (68°F) is generally not a source for amplified L. pneumophila levels. However, high levels of bacteria have been measured in the water supplying ice machines. The source of amplification in this case was thought to be heat from the condenser coil of the ice maker to the cold water supply.

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