Detection of amoeba-associated Legionella pneumophila in hospital water networks of Johannesburg
Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Detection of amoeba-associated Legionella pneumophila in hospital water networks of Johannesburg | |
| Creator | Muchesa, P. Lelfels, M. Jurzik, L. Barnard, T. G. Bartle, C. | |
| Description | The prevalence of free-living amoeba and associated Legionella spp. in hospital water systems may pose a risk of Legionnaires’ disease to immuno-compromised patients. This study investigated the occurrence of amoeba-associated Legionella pneumophila in three South African hospital water systems. A total of 98 water and/or biofilm samples were collected from the sterilisation unit, theatres, neonatal ward and intensive care units. Amoebae were isolated from 71 (72.4%) samples. Isolated amoebae were analysed using qPCR and culture methods to test for the presence of Legionella. L. pneumophila did not grow on selective media in any of the samples. A total of 7 out of the 71 (9.9%) amoeba-positive samples showed a positive reaction for L. pneumophila using qPCR. Although relatively few samples were positive for Legionella in this preliminary study, the association with amoeba still presents a potential public health risk to immuno-compromised patients when exposed to contaminated water. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS Publishing | |
| Date | 2018-09-30 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajid.v33i3.8 | |
| Source | Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases; Vol 33, No 3 (2018); 72-75 2313-1810 2312-0053 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajid.co.za/index.php/sajid/article/view/8/6
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