Commercial potting soils as an alternative infection source of Legionella pneumophila and other Legionella species in Switzerland

Casati, Simona; Gioria-Martinoni, A.; Gaia, Valéria

doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02742.x

Cited by 63 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…1) (30)(31)(32)(33). Several species have also been recovered from composts and potting mixes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and in the soil of Thai farmland (34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41). At present, there are ϳ56 distinct Legionella species (and many unnamed species) encompassing at least 70 serogroups, approximately half of which have been isolated from, or detected in, clinical specimens, but all species are regarded as potential human pathogens (42,43).…”

Section: Physiology and Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Current and Emerging Legionella Diagnostics for Laboratory and Outbreak Investigations

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY Legionnaires' disease (LD) is an often severe and potentially fatal form of bacterial pneumonia caused by an extensive list of Legionella species. These ubiquitous freshwater and soil inhabitants cause human respiratory disease when amplified in man-made water or cooling systems and their aerosols expose a susceptible population. Treatment of sporadic cases and rapid control of LD outbreaks benefit from swift diagnosis in concert with discriminatory bacterial typing for immediate epidemiological responses. Traditional culture and serology were instrumental in describing disease incidence early in its history; currently, diagnosis of LD relies almost solely on the urinary antigen test, which captures only the dominant species and serogroup, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1). This has created a diagnostic “blind spot” for LD caused by non-Lp1 strains. This review focuses on historic, current, and emerging technologies that hold promise for increasing LD diagnostic efficiency and detection rates as part of a coherent testing regimen. The importance of cooperation between epidemiologists and laboratorians for a rapid outbreak response is also illustrated in field investigations conducted by the CDC with state and local authorities. Finally, challenges facing health care professionals, building managers, and the public health community in combating LD are highlighted, and potential solutions are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Physiology and Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Current and Emerging Legionella Diagnostics for Laboratory and Outbreak Investigations

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…L. longbeachae is the most isolated Legionella sp. from potting soil in Australia (58%), with the rates of isolation of L. pneumophila being 13.3% (10). Against both L. longbeachae and L. bozemanii, the most effective concentration of the citrus EO vapor was 15 mg/liter air.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent study by Currie et al (9) in the United Kingdom has shown that 15 of 24 compost samples were positive for Legionella spp., with L. longbeachae being the most commonly isolated. In one study, L. longbeachae was found in the sputum of a patient who had been in contact with potting soil (6), and it was suggested that aerosolaided spread and evaporation of water in the potting soil were the possible routes of transmission (6,10). Legionella has also been isolated from waste management facilities dealing with unwashed solid articles, probably via exposure to soil (11).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of Legionella spp. in Water and in Soil by a Citrus Plant Extract Vapor

Laird

Kurzbach

Score

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

bLegionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella spp., organisms often isolated from environmental sources, including soil and water. Legionella spp. are capable of replicating intracellularly within free-living protozoa, and once this has occurred, Legionella is particularly resistant to disinfectants. Citrus essential oil (EO) vapors are effective antimicrobials against a range of microorganisms, with reductions of 5 log cells ml ؊1 on a variety of surfaces. The aim of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of a citrus EO vapor against Legionella spp. in water and in soil systems. Reductions of viable cells of Legionella pneumophila, Legionella longbeachae, Legionella bozemanii, and an intra-amoebal culture of Legionella pneumophila (water system only) were assessed in soil and in water after exposure to a citrus EO vapor at concentrations ranging from 3.75 mg/ liter air to 15g/liter air. Antimicrobial efficacy via different delivery systems (passive and active sintering of the vapor) was determined in water, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the antimicrobial components (linalool, citral, and ␤-pinene) was conducted. There was up to a 5-log cells ml ؊1 reduction in Legionella spp. in soil after exposure to the citrus EO vapors (15 mg/liter air). The most susceptible strain in water was L. pneumophila, with a 4-log cells ml ؊1 reduction after 24 h via sintering (15 g/liter air). Sintering the vapor through water increased the presence of the antimicrobial components, with a 61% increase of linalool. Therefore, the appropriate method of delivery of an antimicrobial citrus EO vapor may go some way in controlling Legionella spp. from environmental sources.

show abstract

“…A number of studies have investigated the diversity of Legionella species in compost (Steele et al, 1990;Hughes & Steele, 1994;O'Connor et al, 2007;Lindsay et al, 2009;Casati et al, 2009;Pravinkumar et al, 2010) and found a variety of species in high numbers, ranging from 10 3 to 10 5 c.f.u. g 21 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Legionella longbeachae serogroup 1 infections linked to potting compost

Lindsay

Brown

Brown³

et al. 2012

Journal of Medical Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Commercial potting soils as an alternative infection source of Legionella pneumophila and other Legionella species in Switzerland

Cited by 63 publications

References 12 publications

Current and Emerging Legionella Diagnostics for Laboratory and Outbreak Investigations

Current and Emerging Legionella Diagnostics for Laboratory and Outbreak Investigations

Reduction of Legionella spp. in Water and in Soil by a Citrus Plant Extract Vapor

Legionella longbeachae serogroup 1 infections linked to potting compost

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About