Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station

Background; The circulating bath is known to have the potential to allow growth of microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella. Legionellosis, which causes severe pneumonia, may be difficult to manage in the Antarctic winter season. JARE-39 (1998-1999) and -40 (1999-2000) did mic...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Giichiro Ohno, Takahiro Miyata, Kazutaka Yoshida, shinji Ohtani, Hiromitsu Kusagaya, Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2002-03-01
Series:Antarctic Record
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.15094/00009176
_version_ 1818336442619789312
author Giichiro Ohno
Takahiro Miyata
Kazutaka Yoshida
shinji Ohtani
Hiromitsu Kusagaya
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
author_facet Giichiro Ohno
Takahiro Miyata
Kazutaka Yoshida
shinji Ohtani
Hiromitsu Kusagaya
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
author_sort Giichiro Ohno
collection DOAJ
description Background; The circulating bath is known to have the potential to allow growth of microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella. Legionellosis, which causes severe pneumonia, may be difficult to manage in the Antarctic winter season. JARE-39 (1998-1999) and -40 (1999-2000) did microbiological studies of Syowa Station's circulating bath. Methods; Water samples including bath sink, water supplying outer tank, and filter of bath circulation system were collected and stored by freezing or in cold storage. After the samples were brought back to Japan, they were expamined to detect colonies of legionellae and other microorganisms; DNA testing to detect legionellae by PCR was also carried out. JARE-40 determined total counts of bacteria and Escherichia coli in the bath, and periodically measured the water temperature. Epidemiological analysis of bath-related diseases was done for JARE-39. Findings; Specimens from bath-water and filter of water-supply system showed positive result of the Legionella-specific DNA by PCR method. These samples, however, were all negative by the culture method for legionellae. Bath-water temperature in August exceeded 44.6℃ on average. By the end of the winter the water temperature came down 1 to 2 degrees, and then total counts of bacteria and E. coli were measured. During the winter season of JARE-39,outbreaks of gastroenteritis and upper respiratory illness occurred. Systematic microbiological and epidemiological surveillance in the station is necessary to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T14:39:23Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d9776a65f0b84dfcacd4558f0d0a95cc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0085-7289
2432-079X
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T14:39:23Z
publishDate 2002-03-01
publisher National Institute of Polar Research
record_format Article
series Antarctic Record
spelling doaj.art-d9776a65f0b84dfcacd4558f0d0a95cc2022-12-21T23:41:39ZengNational Institute of Polar ResearchAntarctic Record0085-72892432-079X2002-03-0145331131910.15094/00009176Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa StationGiichiro Ohno0Takahiro Miyata1Kazutaka Yoshida2shinji Ohtani3Hiromitsu Kusagaya4Hiroyuki Yamamoto5Department of Surgery, Tokatzu HospitalTrauma and Acute Critical Care Center, Osaka University HospitalMinistry of Land Infrastructure and Transport Cyugoku Regional Development BureauDepartment of Surgery, San-in Rousai HospitalMedecins Sans FrontieresDepartment of Microbiology, St. Marianna University School of MedicineBackground; The circulating bath is known to have the potential to allow growth of microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella. Legionellosis, which causes severe pneumonia, may be difficult to manage in the Antarctic winter season. JARE-39 (1998-1999) and -40 (1999-2000) did microbiological studies of Syowa Station's circulating bath. Methods; Water samples including bath sink, water supplying outer tank, and filter of bath circulation system were collected and stored by freezing or in cold storage. After the samples were brought back to Japan, they were expamined to detect colonies of legionellae and other microorganisms; DNA testing to detect legionellae by PCR was also carried out. JARE-40 determined total counts of bacteria and Escherichia coli in the bath, and periodically measured the water temperature. Epidemiological analysis of bath-related diseases was done for JARE-39. Findings; Specimens from bath-water and filter of water-supply system showed positive result of the Legionella-specific DNA by PCR method. These samples, however, were all negative by the culture method for legionellae. Bath-water temperature in August exceeded 44.6℃ on average. By the end of the winter the water temperature came down 1 to 2 degrees, and then total counts of bacteria and E. coli were measured. During the winter season of JARE-39,outbreaks of gastroenteritis and upper respiratory illness occurred. Systematic microbiological and epidemiological surveillance in the station is necessary to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.http://doi.org/10.15094/00009176
spellingShingle Giichiro Ohno
Takahiro Miyata
Kazutaka Yoshida
shinji Ohtani
Hiromitsu Kusagaya
Hiroyuki Yamamoto
Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station
Antarctic Record
title Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station
title_full Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station
title_fullStr Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station
title_full_unstemmed Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station
title_short Microbiological study of the circulating bath system at Syowa Station
title_sort microbiological study of the circulating bath system at syowa station
url http://doi.org/10.15094/00009176
work_keys_str_mv AT giichiroohno microbiologicalstudyofthecirculatingbathsystematsyowastation
AT takahiromiyata microbiologicalstudyofthecirculatingbathsystematsyowastation
AT kazutakayoshida microbiologicalstudyofthecirculatingbathsystematsyowastation
AT shinjiohtani microbiologicalstudyofthecirculatingbathsystematsyowastation
AT hiromitsukusagaya microbiologicalstudyofthecirculatingbathsystematsyowastation
AT hiroyukiyamamoto microbiologicalstudyofthecirculatingbathsystematsyowastation