Increased flushing frequency of a model plumbing system initially promoted the formation of viable but non culturable cells but ultimately reduced the concentration of culturable and total Legionella DNA

Autor: Muhammad Atif Nisar, Kirstin E. Ross, Melissa H. Brown, Richard Bentham, Giles Best, Nicholas S. Eyre, Sophie C. Leterme, Harriet Whiley
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Heliyon, Vol 10, Iss 11, Pp e32334- (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2405-8440
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32334
Popis: Legionella is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, and its prevalence in potable water is a significant public health issue. Water stagnation within buildings increases the risk of Legionella. However, there are limited studies investigating how stagnation arising through intermittent usage affects Legionella proliferation and the studies that are available do not consider viable but non culturable (VBNC) Legionella. This study used a model plumbing system to examine how intermittent water stagnation affects both VBNC and culturable Legionella. The model plumbing system contained a water tank supplying two biofilm reactors. The model was initially left stagnant for ≈5 months (147 days), after which one reactor was flushed daily, and the other weekly. Biofilm coupons, and water samples were collected for analysis at days 0, 14 and 28. These samples were analysed for culturable and VBNC Legionella, free-living amoebae, and heterotrophic bacteria. After 28 days, once-a-day flushing significantly (p
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals