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Legionella spp. in Polish hospitals in 2009–2013 and 2014–2016: An epidemiological analysis

Iwona Gładysz
Iwona Gładysz
, 
Agnieszka Sikora
Agnieszka Sikora
, 
Małgorzata Wójtowicz-Bobin
Małgorzata Wójtowicz-Bobin
 et 
Jan Karczewski
Jan Karczewski
   | 05 févr. 2021
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Article Category: Original Article
Publié en ligne: 05 févr. 2021
Pages: 85 - 90
Reçu: 14 avr. 2020
Accepté: 30 oct. 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.7249
Mots clés
© 2021 Iwona Gładysz et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Introduction

Bacteria of the genus Legionella cause Legionnaires’ disease (atypical pneumonia, often with a severe clinical course) and Pontiac fever (self-limiting infection with flu-like symptoms). Legionella spp. are commonly found in natural aquatic environments and artificial water distribution systems.

Material & Methods

An epidemiological analysis of Legionella spp. in hospital water supply systems was based on the results obtained from Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations of Poland. The materials for this study were hot water samples collected from 346 hospitals in 2009–2013 and from 221 hospitals in 2014–2016.

Results

Between 2014 and 2016, there was a decrease in the percentage of the number of water samples in Group A (<100 CFU/100 ml). In other groups: B (>100 CFU/100 ml), C (>1000 CFU/100 ml), D (>10 000 CFU/100 ml) was observed an increase in the percentage of the number of water samples, which was a negative phenomenon. The mean number of L. pneumophila colonies in analyzed periods 2009–2013 and 2014–2016 were different. In 2009–2013, the most virulent L. pneumophila serogroup 1 (SG 1) was detected in 3 hospitals (0.9%), and L. pneumophila SG 2-14 were isolated in 20 (5.5%). Between 2014 and 2016, L. pneumophila SG 1 and L. pneumophila SG 2-14 were found in 5 hospitals (2.2%) and 18 hospitals (8.1%), respectively.

Disscusion

In this study a comparative epidemiological analysis was performed on the prevalence of L. pneumophila in hospital water supply systems in Poland in the following two periods: 2009 –2013 and 2014–2016. The study demonstrated that the water supply systems of Polish hospitals were colonized by L. pneumophila at different levels. However, between 2014 and 2016 an upward trend was observed in comparison with 2009–2013.
eISSN:
1732-2693
Langue:
Anglais
Périodicité:
Volume Open
Sujets de la revue:
Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Virology, Medicine, Basic Medical Science, Immunology
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