Serological and molecular identification of Legionella spp. isolated from water and surrounding air samples in Italian healthcare facilities

Montagna, Maria Teresa; Cristina, Maria Luisa; Giglio, Osvalda De; Spagnolo, Anna Maria; Napoli, Christian; Cannova, Lucia; Deriu, M.; Delia, S.; Giuliano, A.; Guida, Marco; Laganà, Pasqualina; Liguori, Giorgio; Mura, I; Pennino, Francesca; Rossini, Angelo; Tardivo, Stefano; Torre, Ida; Torregrossa, Maria Valeria; Villafrate, M. R.; Albertini, Roberto; Pasquarella, Cesira

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2015.12.015

Cited by 43 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The model showed a statistically significant effect of laboratories between membrane filters (p < 0.0001) and for interactions (p < 0.0001), as shown in Table 2. 5,6 <0.0001…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Legionella Detection in Water Networks as per ISO 11731:2017: Can Different Filter Pore Sizes and Direct Placement on Culture Media Influence Laboratory Results?

Giglio

Diella

Trerotoli

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Determination of Legionella concentrations in water networks is useful for predicting legionellosis risks. The standard culture technique using concentration with membranes filters is the most commonly used method for environmental surveillance of Legionella. The aim of this study was to verify whether filtration with different filter pore sizes (0.2 and 0.45 µm) according to (ISO) 11731:2017, followed by directly placing them on culture media, can influence Legionella detection. Three laboratories participated in an experimental study that tested a known suspension of Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) serogroup 1 (ATCC 33152) (approximate final cell density of 15 CFU/mL). E. coli (ATCC 11775) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25668) were included as control tests. The average (95% CI) percentage of recovery of Lpn was 65% using 0.45-µm filters and 15% using 0.2-µm filters (p < 0.0001). For control tests, the average (95% CI) percentage of recovery was higher with 0.45 vs. 0.2 µm filters: 97% vs. 64% for Escherichia coli (p < 0.00001) and 105% vs. 97% (p = 0.0244) for P. aeruginosa. Our results showed that the 0.45-µm filters provided the greatest detection of Legionella. Because the current national guidelines leave the choice of membrane porosity to the operator, experimental studies are important for directing operators towards a conscious choice to standardize Legionella environmental surveillance methods.

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“…The model showed a statistically significant effect of laboratories between membrane filters (p < 0.0001) and for interactions (p < 0.0001), as shown in Table 2. 5,6 <0.0001…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Legionnaires' disease (LD) is a severe and potentially lethal pneumonia caused by the inhalation of aerosolized water from natural and artificial water systems contaminated with Legionella [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. The disease may be community-acquired or nosocomial and can occur as both sporadic and epidemic cases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Legionella Detection in Water Networks as per ISO 11731:2017: Can Different Filter Pore Sizes and Direct Placement on Culture Media Influence Laboratory Results?

Giglio

Diella

Trerotoli

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Only 1 of 13 (8%) samples of drinkable water (gushing fountain) was positive, but it has not yet been shown that Legionella is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water. It is also true that to drink from the gushing fountains, they must be approach by the face which means inhaling droplets that could potentially be contaminated [27,28].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Legionella</i> risk assessment in cruise ships and ferries

Laganà¹,

Gambuzza

Delia³

2017

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction. The increasing development of marine traffic has led to a rise in the incidence of legionellosis among travellers. It occurs in similar environments, especially closed and crowded, and aboard ships Legionella survives and multiplies easily in water pipes, spreading into the environment through air conditioning systems and water distribution points. Although in recent years in the construction of cruise ships preventive measures aimed at curbing the proliferation of Legionella (design, materials, focus on the operation and maintenance of the water system), have been taken account, little or no attention has been paid to small ships which, in many cases, are old and not well maintained. Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of Legionella contamination in ferries and cruise ships in order to adopt more specific control measures. Materials and method. A prevalence study was carried out on 10 ferries and 6 cruise ships docking or in transit across the port of Messina (Sicily, Italy). Water and air samples collected from many critical points were tested for qualitative and quantitative identification of Legionella. Results and conclusions. Legionella pneumophila sg 1 was isolated from the samples of shower and tap water in 7 (70%) of the 10 ferries examined, and in 3 (33%) of the 6 cruise ships examined, and L. pneumophila sg 2-14 in 8 (80%) and 1 (16.7%) of these ships, respectively. No Legionella contamination was found in whirlpool baths, air and ice samples. In conclusion, the data obtained confirm higher levels of Legionella contamination in local ferries and cruise ships, underlining the need to adopt corrective actions more specific for these smaller vessels.

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“…Moreover, due to the evidence of Legionella presence even in the aerosol, in very recent years we have associate the control of this latter to the routine water control (data not yet published). Indeed, many recent studies suggest and recommend the concurrent research water/air to increase the probability of finding the microorganism [41][42][43]. This aspects are important not only in order to plan the management and monitoring actions of the pipelines, but also in view of a Public Health approach, with the specific aim of preventing illnesses in the exposed population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis within an Italian University Hospital. Results of 15 Years of Analysis

Laganà¹,

Facciolà²,

Palermo³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Legionnaires’ disease is normally acquired by inhalation of legionellae from a contaminated environmental source. Water systems of large buildings, such as hospitals, are often contaminated with legionellae and therefore represent a potential risk for the hospital population. In this study, we demonstrated the constant presence of Legionella in water samples from the water system of a large university hospital in Messina (Sicily, Italy) consisting of 11 separate pavilions during a period of 15 years (2004-2018). In total, 1346 hot water samples were collected between January 2004 and December 2018. During this period, to recover Legionella spp. from water samples the standard procedures reported by the Italian Guidelines emanated in 2000 were adopted; from May 2015 to 2018 Italian Guidelines revised in 2015 (ISS, 2015), were used. The most water samples (72%) were positive to L. pneumophila serogroups 2-14 whereas L. pneumophila serogroup 1 accounted for the 18% and Legionella spp. for the 15%. Most of the positive samples were found in the buildings where are situated critical wards as ICU, Neurosurgery, Surgeries, Pneumology and Neonatal Intensive Unit Care. We highlighted the importance of a continuous monitoring of hospital water samples to prevent the potential risk of nosocomial legionellosis.

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Serological and molecular identification of Legionella spp. isolated from water and surrounding air samples in Italian healthcare facilities

Abstract: The application of the SBT method allowed to verify the homology among Legionella strains from water samples and the surrounding air. The results showed that the same Lpn strains were present in the air and water samples, and a new Legionella strain was identified.

Cited by 43 publications

References 23 publications

Legionella Detection in Water Networks as per ISO 11731:2017: Can Different Filter Pore Sizes and Direct Placement on Culture Media Influence Laboratory Results?

Legionella Detection in Water Networks as per ISO 11731:2017: Can Different Filter Pore Sizes and Direct Placement on Culture Media Influence Laboratory Results?

<i>Legionella</i> risk assessment in cruise ships and ferries

Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis within an Italian University Hospital. Results of 15 Years of Analysis

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