The high prevalence of Legionella pneumophila contamination in hospital potable water systems in Taiwan: implications for hospital infection control in Asia
| Autor: | Feng-Yee Chang, Hsi Hsun Lin, Pei Yi Yu, Yung Ching Liu, Yao Shen Chen, Ching Chuan Liu, Yusen E. Lin, Ren Jy Ben, Hsiu Yun Shih, Muh Yong Yen, Wen Chien Ko, Wei Ru Lin, Yin Ching Chuang, Zhi-Yuan Shi, Wen Kuei Huang |
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| Rok vydání: | 2008 |
| Předmět: |
Microbiology (medical)
Safety Management medicine.medical_specialty Legionella Taiwan Legionella pneumophila Potable water Tap water Water Supply Environmental health Epidemiology Humans Medicine Infection control Intensive care medicine Equipment and Supplies Hospital Infection Control Legionella contamination biology business.industry General Medicine Contamination bacterial infections and mycoses biology.organism_classification respiratory tract diseases Hospital-acquired infection prevention Infectious Diseases Potable water systems Water quality Water Microbiology business |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 12:416-420 |
| ISSN: | 1201-9712 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijid.2007.11.008 |
| Popis: | SummaryBackgroundThe major sources of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) are the potable water systems of large buildings including hospitals, nursing homes, and hotels. Culturing the hospital water system for Legionella allows a preventive approach for hospital-acquired LD. However, hospital-acquired LD is rarely reported in Taiwan, and environmental cultures of Legionella in hospital water systems in Taiwan have never been systematically performed.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine if Legionella is present in hospital water systems in Taiwan. Water quality analysis was also performed to determine if geographic differences in water quality result in different Legionella positivity rates.MethodThe water systems of 16 hospitals throughout Taiwan were tested for Legionella by culture. Standardized culture procedures were followed.ResultsLegionella pneumophila was isolated from 63% (10/16) of the hospital water systems; 19% (3/16) of the hospitals had an L. pneumophila positive rate greater than 30%. L. pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6 (strains that are most responsible for Legionella infections) were isolated from 80% (8/10) and 60% (6/10), respectively, of the hospitals that yielded L. pneumophila in their water distribution systems.ConclusionAs was shown in epidemiological studies in the USA and Spain, hospital-acquired legionellosis may be prevalent but underdiagnosed in Taiwan. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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