Although the European reports highlight an increase in community-acquired Legionnaires' disease cases, the risk of Legionella spp. in private houses is underestimated. In Pisa (Italy) we performed a three-year survey on Legionella presence in 121 buildings with an independent hot water production (IB); 64 buildings with a central hot water production (CB); and 35 buildings with a solar thermal ...

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the role of flushing dental water lines for the removal of heterotrophic plate count bacteria, Legionella spp., and free-living protozoa. METHODS Forty dental offices were surveyed in the study. An initial sample and a sample taken after three minutes of flushing were obtained from the air/water syringe at each location. All samples were quantit...

Waters in marine and freshwater areas of Puerto Rico were analyzed for the presence of Legionella spp. by direct fluorescent antibody assay with guinea pig confirmation. Several species, including L. bozemanii, L. dumoffii, L. gormanii, L. longbeachae, L. micdadei, and L. pneumophila, were widely distributed among all sites. Legionellaceae, including L. pneumophila, were found in high densities...

Inhalation of potable water presents a potential route of exposure to opportunistic pathogens and hence warrants significant public health concern. This study used qPCR to detect opportunistic pathogens Legionella spp., L. pneumophila and MAC at multiple points along two potable water distribution pipelines. One used chlorine disinfection and the other chloramine disinfection. Samples were coll...

Legionnaires' disease is a severe respiratory disease that is estimated to cause between 8,000 and 18,000 hospitalizations each year, though the exact burden is unknown due to under-utilization of diagnostic testing. Although Legionella pneumophila is the most common species detected in clinical cases (80-90%), other species have also been reported to cause disease. However, little is known abo...

Recently, an immunochromatographic assay for rapid qualitative detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine specimens has become available (NOW Legionella urinary antigen test; Binax, Portland, Maine). We have previously shown that this test is of clinical value in providing a rapid diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease, especially in patients with severe community-acquired pne...

Oakmoss is a natural fragrance ingredient exhibiting highly specific, potent antibacterial activity against Legionella pneumophila, a causative agent of severe water-bone pneumonia. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of individual compounds isolated from oakmoss was investigated against L. pneumophila and other Legionella spp. A total of 18 known compounds and two minor novel comp...

There are currently more than 40 species of Legionella and the identification of most of these by standard methods is technically difficult. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of a previously published PCR-based method of identifying Legionella spp. Intergenic 16S-23S rDNA spacer regions were amplified with primers complementary to conserved regions of the rRNA genes. Following...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The microbiological monitoring of the water used for haemodialysis is important especially for Legionella and non-fermentative bacteria since patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are suffering from deteriorated function of immune system. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total 50 water and dialysate samples were weekly collected over a period of 10 weeks from 5 sites. ...