Hospital washbasin water: risk of Legionella-contaminated aerosol inhalation

P Cassier; C Landelle; M Reyrolle; M C Nicolle; S Slimani; J Etienne; P Vanhems; S Jarraud

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2013.08.001

Hospital washbasin water: risk of Legionella-contaminated aerosol inhalation

J Hosp Infect. 2013 Dec;85(4):308-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2013.08.001. Epub 2013 Sep 5.

Authors

P Cassier¹, C Landelle, M Reyrolle, M C Nicolle, S Slimani, J Etienne, P Vanhems, S Jarraud

Affiliation

¹ Groupement Hospitalier Edouard Herriot, Service d'Hygiène, Epidémiologie et Prévention, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Centre National de Référence des Légionelles, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France.

PMID: 24064177
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2013.08.001

Abstract

The contamination of aerosols by washbasin water colonized by Legionella in a hospital was evaluated. Aerosol samples were collected by two impingement technologies. Legionella was never detected by culture in all the (aerosol) samples. However, 45% (18/40) of aerosol samples were positive for Legionella spp. by polymerase chain reaction, with measurable concentrations in 10% of samples (4/40). Moreover, immunoassay detected Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 and L. anisa, and potentially viable bacteria were seen on viability testing. These data suggest that colonized hospital washbasins could represent risks of exposure to Legionella aerosol inhalation, especially by immunocompromised patients.

Keywords: Aerosol; Impingement; Legionella; Tap water; Washbasin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aerosols*
Environmental Exposure*
Hospitals
Humans
Immunoassay
Inhalation*
Legionella / classification
Legionella / isolation & purification*
Legionellosis / microbiology*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Risk Assessment
Water Microbiology*

Substances

Aerosols