How Molecular Typing Can Support Legionella Environmental Surveillance in Hot Water Distribution Systems
A Hospital Experience
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15470419 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Luna Girolamini (0000-0001-5916-9634, University of Bologna), Silvano Salaris (0000-0002-8389-7460, University of Bologna), Jessica Lizzadro (University of Bologna), Marta Mazzotta (0000-0002-6966-3115, University of Bologna), Maria Rosaria Pascale (0000-0001-6333-3492, University of Bologna), Tiziana Pellati (Ospedale "Santa Maria delle Croci" di Ravenna), Sandra Cristino (0000-0002-5084-2615, University of Bologna, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 22 |
| Pages | 8662-8662 |
| Publication date | 2020-11-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph17228662 |
| PMID | 33233464 |
| OpenAlex | W3109089105 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 34 |
In this study, we aimed to associate the molecular typing of Legionella isolates with a culture technique during routine Legionella hospital environmental surveillance in hot water distribution systems (HWDSs) to develop a risk map able to be used to prevent nosocomial infections and formulate appropriate preventive measures. Hot water samples were cultured according to ISO 11731:2017. The isolates were serotyped using an agglutination test and genotyped by sequence-based typing (SBT) for Legionella pneumophila or macrophage infectivity potentiator ( mip ) gene sequencing for non- pneumophila Legionella species. The isolates' relationship was phylogenetically analyzed. The Legionella distribution and level of contamination were studied in relation to temperature and disinfectant residues. The culture technique detected 62.21% of Legionella positive samples, characterized by L. pneumophila serogroup 1, Legionella non- pneumophila , or both simultaneously. The SBT assigned two sequence types (STs): ST1, the most prevalent in Italy, and ST104, which had never been isolated before. The mip gene sequencing detected L. anisa and L. rubrilucens . The phylogenetic analysis showed distinct clusters for each species. The distribution of Legionella isolates showed significant differences between buildings, with a negative correlation between the measured level of contamination, disinfectant, and temperature. The Legionella molecular approach introduced in HWDSs environmental surveillance permits (i) a risk map to be outlined that can help formulate appropriate disinfection strategies and (ii) rapid epidemiological investigations to quickly identify the source of Legionella infections
Biology · Distribution (mathematics · Environmental health · Legionella · Medical emergency · Typing · Legionella and Acanthamoeba research · Mathematics · Medicine · Vibrio bacteria research studies · Water Treatment and Disinfection · Genetics · Microbiology
| Citations per year | 0.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |