1. Legionella Infection Risk from Domestic Hot Water
- Author
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M. Moro, M. Teresa Montagna, Rachele Giovanna Neglia, Paola Borella, Gabriella Ribera D’Alcalà, Christian Napoli, D. Tatò, Patrizia Laurenti, Serena Stampi, Vincenzo Romano-Spica, Giovanna De Luca, G. Stancanelli, Isabella Marchesi, Guglielmina Fantuzzi, Cristina Ossi, Maria Triassi, Erica Leoni, Gianluigi Quaranta, Triassi, Maria, Borella, P, Montagna, Mt, ROMANO SPICA, V, Stampi, S, Stancanelli, G, Neglia, R, Marchesi, I, Fantuzzi, G, Tato, D, Napoli, C, Quaranta, G, Laurenti, P, Leoni, E, DE LUCA, G, Ossi, C, Moro, M, RIBERA D'ALCALA, G., Borella P., Montagna MT., Romano Spica V., Stampi S., Stancanelli G., Triassi M., Neglia R., Marchesi I., Fantuzzi G., Tatò D., Napoli C., Quaranta G., Laurenti P., Leoni E., De Luca G., Ossi C., Moro M., and Ribera D'Alcalà G.
- Subjects
Microbiology (medical) ,Veterinary medicine ,Infection risk ,Epidemiology ,Legionella ,Hot water ,HOT WATER SYSTEMS ,chemistry.chemical_element ,lcsh:Medicine ,Legionella pneumophila ,Microbiology ,lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases ,Risk Factors ,Water Supply ,community legionellosis ,Pseudomonas ,medicine ,Chlorine ,Humans ,lcsh:RC109-216 ,Legionella multicentric survey ,Legionellosis ,biology ,Legionella spp ,Research ,lcsh:R ,Contamination ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,bacterial infections and mycoses ,respiratory tract diseases ,Infectious Diseases ,Heater type ,domestic hot water systems home colonization ,chemistry ,Italy ,Metals ,Pseudomonas spp ,Legionnaires' disease ,Legionnaires' Disease ,Infection ,Water Microbiology ,water microbial contamination - Abstract
We investigated Legionella and Pseudomonas contamination of hot water in a cross-sectional multicentric survey in Italy. Chemical parameters (hardness, free chlorine, and trace elements) were determined. Legionella spp. were detected in 33 (22.6%) and Pseudomonas spp. in 56 (38.4%) of 146 samples. Some factors associated with Legionella contamination were heater type, tank distance and capacity, water plant age, and mineral content. Pseudomonas presence was influenced by water source, hardness, free chlorine, and temperature. Legionella contamination was associated with a centralized heater, distance from the heater point >10 m, and a water plant >10 years old. Furthermore, zinc levels of 50 microg/L appeared to be protective against Legionella colonization [corrected]. Legionella species and serogroups were differently distributed according to heater type, water temperature, and free chlorine, suggesting that Legionella strains may have a different sensibility and resistance to environmental factors and different ecologic niches.