Legionella alert at the AOU of Sassari. Traces of the bacteria were found during bacteriological analyses conducted at the end of July on water samples taken from taps used by patients in the wards on Viale San Pietro. The hospital has implemented an operational protocol for the management and control of Legionella, with a series of instructions for healthcare workers and has initiated the necessary cleanups to eliminate the bacteria, which can cause pneumonia if inhaled. The written instructions issued by the hospital specifically call for flushing the water for a certain period of time.
The document states that stagnant water at temperatures above 20°C (68°F) causes the bacteria to proliferate, leading to the "formation of biofilm on the internal surfaces of pipes." Flushing must be performed by healthcare workers, especially "in terminals not used daily or more frequently."