Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

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

Version 1 : Received: 29 January 2019 / Approved: 30 January 2019 / Online: 30 January 2019 (10:12:29 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Laganà, P.; Facciolà, A.; Palermo, R.; Delia, S. Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis within an Italian University Hospital—Results of 15 Years of Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1103. Laganà, P.; Facciolà, A.; Palermo, R.; Delia, S. Environmental Surveillance of Legionellosis within an Italian University Hospital—Results of 15 Years of Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1103.

Abstract

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.

Keywords

legionella; legionellosis; environmental surveillance; water system

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology

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