Summary
An environmental survey was carried out which consisted of periodic and random sampling of water tanks and showers in two large Dublin hospitals. Of the samples 5.3% yieldedLegionella bacteria.Legionella pneumophila of serogroups 3, 5 and 6 were isolated from these sites with viable counts ranging from 3.0×102-2.5×103 c.f.u./litre. The implementation of periodic sampling may, however, not be a worthwhile exercise unless an environmental site has been associated with cases of legionellosis. Emphasis should be placed on the prevention of contamination of environmental sites with legionellae and on the development and implementation of protocols and procedures for the isolation of legionellae to gain the necessry expertise should an epidemiological survey be required.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McDade, J. E., Shepard, C. C., Fraser, D. W., Tsai, T. R., Redus, M. A. and Dowdle, W. R. Legionnaires’ disease. Isolation of a bacterium and demonstration of its role in other respiratory diseases. N. Eng. J. Med. 1977: 297, 1197–1203.
Fraser, D. W., Tsai, T. R., Orenstein, W. et al. Legionnaires’ disease: Description of an epidemic of pneumonia. N. Eng. J. Med. 1977: 297, 1189–1197.
Marks, J. S., Tsai, T. F., Martone, W. J., Baron, R. C. et al. Nosocomial Legionnaires’ disease in Columbus, Ohio. Ann. Intern. Med. 1979: 90, 565–569.
Klaucke, D. N., Vogt, R. L., Lara, D. et al. Epidemiology of two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in Burlington, Vermont 1980. InLegionella, Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. 1984: 221–223.
Fischer, S. P., Tobin, J. O’H., Nelson, A. M. et al. Investigation and control of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in a district general hospital. Lancet 1981: i, 932–936.
Dondero, T. J. Jr., Rendtorff, R. C., Mallison, G. F. et al. Outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease associated with contaminated airconditioning cooling tower. New Eng. J. Med. 1980: 302, 365–370.
Anderson, P., Bartlett, C., Cook, G. and Woodward, M. Legionnaires’ disease in Reading — possible association with a cooling tower. Community Med. 1985: 7, 202–207.
Rashed, K., Gibson, J., Fairfax, A., Mason, A., Francis, J. and Daggett, P. Legionnaires’ disease in Stafford: management of an epidemic. Lancet 1986: i, 197–199.
Desplaces, N., Bure, A., Dburnon, E.Legionella spp. in environmantal water samples in Paris. InLegionella Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium (C. Thomsberry, A., Balows, J. C., Feeley, W., Jakubowski, Eds.), 1984: pp. 320–321. American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Washington, D.C.
Shands, K. N., Ho, J. L., Meyer, R. D. et al. Potable water as a source of Legionnaires’ disease. J.A.M.A. 1985: 253, 1412–1416.
Dennis, P. J., Taylor, J. A., Fitzgeorge, R. B., Bartlett, C. L. R. and Barrow, G. I.Legionella pneumophila in water plumbing systems. Lancet 1982: i, 949–951.
Bartlett, C. L. R., Kurtz, J. B., Hutchinson, J. G. P., Turner, G. C. and Wright, A. E.Legionella in hospital and hotel water supplies. Lancet 1983: ii, 1315.
Edelstein, P. H. Improved semi-selective medium for isolation ofLegionella pneumophila from contaminated clinical environmental specimens. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1982: 14, 298–303.
Nolte, F. S., Hollick, G. E. and Robertson, R. G. Enzymatic activities of Legionella pneumophilia and Legionella-like organisms. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1982: 15, 175–177.
Cherry, W. B., McKinney, R. M. Detection in clinical specimens by direct immunofluorescence. In “Legionnaires”: the Disease, the Bacterium and Methodology. (G. L. Jones and G. A Herbert, Eds.). PHLS, C.D.C. Atlanta, Ga. 1978: pp. 130–145.
Moss, C. W., Weaver, R. E., Dees, S. B. and Cherry, W. B. Cellular fatty acid composition of isolates fromLegionnaires’ disease. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1977: 6, 140–143.
Tobin, J. O’H., Dunhill, M. S., French, M. et al.Legionnaires’ disease in a transplant unit: Isolation of the causative agent from shower baths. Lancet 1080: ii, 118–121.
Friis-Moller, A., Rechnitzer, C., Black, F. T., Collins, M., Lind, K. and Aalund, O. Prevalence of LD in pneumonia patients admitted to a Danish department of infectious disease. Scand. J. Infect. Dis. 1986: 18, 321–328.
Brindle, R. J., Stannet, P. J. and Cunliffe, R. N.Legionella pneumophila: comparison from water specimens by centrifugation and filtration. Epidem. Inf. 1987: 99, 241–247.
Department of Health Circular B. 319/9/4 1982. Legionaires’ disease and hospital water systems.
Colbourne, J. S., Pratt, D. J., Smith, M. G., Fisher-Hoch, S. P. and Harper, D. Water fittings as sources ofLegionella pneumophila in a hospital plumbing system. Lancet 1984: i, 210–213.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haugh, C., Hone, R. & Smyth, C.J. Legionella in Dublin hospital water supplies. I.J.M.S. 159, 10–13 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02937207
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02937207