TY - JOUR
TI - Decreasing trend of Legionella isolation in a long-term microbial
monitoring program in Greek hospitals
AU - Velonakis, Emanouil
AU - Karanika, Maria
AU - Mouchtouri, Varavara and
AU - Thanasias, Efthimios
AU - Katsiaflaka, Anna
AU - Vatopoulos, Alkis and
AU - Hadjichristodoulou, Christos
JO - International Journal of Environmental Health Research
PY - 2012
VL - 22
TODO - 3
SP - 197-209
PB - TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD LONDON
SN - 0960-3123, 1369-1619
TODO - 10.1080/09603123.2011.628644
TODO - Legionella spp.; hospital; infection; public health
TODO - Legionnaires’ disease is a known cause of severe pneumonia in a
nosocomial setting. This study examined Legionella isolation in Greek
hospitals. Water samples and swabs of showerheads from 41 hospitals were
collected over a four-year period (2004-2007) from hot and cold water
systems and cooling towers in Greece. In total, 1058 samples were
examined for the presence of Legionella. From the hot water samples
examined, 166 out of 607 (27.3%) were positive for Legionella,
including 111 (18.3%) positive for Legionella pneumophila sg1 samples.
The temperature of hot water samples less than 55 degrees C was
statistically significant, associated with Legionella spp. isolation (RR
4.01, 95% CI 2.33-6.92). Ten out of 17 (58.8%) hospital cooling towers
required remedial actions due to Legionella colonization. Reemergence of
Legionella spp. colonization was evident in more than half of the
hospitals where frequent monitoring and appropriate risk assessment
plans were absent or lacking. Hospitals that were monitored continuously
over the study period presented a decreasing trend of Legionella
colonization. Environmental risk assessment together with Legionella
isolation should be enforced systematically in hospitals.
ER -