Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal pneumonia like infection caused by inhalation or aspiration of water particles contaminated with pathogenic <i>Legionella</i> spp. Household showers have been identified as a potential source of sporadic, community-acquired Legionnai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/8/1/27 |
| _version_ | 1811304934754222080 |
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| author | Deanna Hayes-Phillips Richard Bentham Kirstin Ross Harriet Whiley |
| author_facet | Deanna Hayes-Phillips Richard Bentham Kirstin Ross Harriet Whiley |
| author_sort | Deanna Hayes-Phillips |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal pneumonia like infection caused by inhalation or aspiration of water particles contaminated with pathogenic <i>Legionella</i> spp. Household showers have been identified as a potential source of sporadic, community-acquired Legionnaires’ disease. This study used qPCR to enumerate <i>Legionella</i> spp. and <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> in water samples collected from domestic showers across metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. A survey was used to identify risk factors associated with contamination and to examine awareness of <i>Legionella</i> control in the home. The hot water temperature was also measured. A total of 74.6% (50/68) and 64.2% (43/68) showers were positive for <i>Legionella</i> spp. and <i>L. pneumophila</i>, respectively. Statistically significant associations were found between <i>Legionella</i> spp. concentration and maximum hot water temperature (<i>p</i> = 0.000), frequency of shower use (<i>p</i> = 0.000) and age of house (<i>p</i> = 0.037). Lower <i>Legionella</i> spp. concentrations were associated with higher hot water temperatures, showers used at least every week and houses less than 5 years old. However, examination of risk factors associated with <i>L. pneumophila</i> found that there were no statistically significant associations (<i>p</i> > 0.05) with <i>L. pneumophila</i> concentrations and temperature, type of hot water system, age of system, age of house or frequency of use. This study demonstrated that domestic showers were frequently colonized by <i>Legionella</i> spp. and <i>L. pneumophila</i> and should be considered a potential source of sporadic Legionnaires’ disease. Increasing hot water temperature and running showers every week to enable water sitting in pipes to be replenished by the municipal water supply were identified as strategies to reduce the risk of <i>Legionella</i> in showers. The lack of public awareness in this study identified the need for public health campaigns to inform vulnerable populations of the steps they can take to reduce the risk of <i>Legionella</i> contamination and exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:16:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e395b7b3f75647dcb98994ea97692db3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:16:19Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e395b7b3f75647dcb98994ea97692db32022-12-22T02:54:48ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172019-02-01812710.3390/pathogens8010027pathogens8010027Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household ShowersDeanna Hayes-Phillips0Richard Bentham1Kirstin Ross2Harriet Whiley3College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, AustraliaCollege of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, AustraliaCollege of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, AustraliaCollege of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, AustraliaLegionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal pneumonia like infection caused by inhalation or aspiration of water particles contaminated with pathogenic <i>Legionella</i> spp. Household showers have been identified as a potential source of sporadic, community-acquired Legionnaires’ disease. This study used qPCR to enumerate <i>Legionella</i> spp. and <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> in water samples collected from domestic showers across metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. A survey was used to identify risk factors associated with contamination and to examine awareness of <i>Legionella</i> control in the home. The hot water temperature was also measured. A total of 74.6% (50/68) and 64.2% (43/68) showers were positive for <i>Legionella</i> spp. and <i>L. pneumophila</i>, respectively. Statistically significant associations were found between <i>Legionella</i> spp. concentration and maximum hot water temperature (<i>p</i> = 0.000), frequency of shower use (<i>p</i> = 0.000) and age of house (<i>p</i> = 0.037). Lower <i>Legionella</i> spp. concentrations were associated with higher hot water temperatures, showers used at least every week and houses less than 5 years old. However, examination of risk factors associated with <i>L. pneumophila</i> found that there were no statistically significant associations (<i>p</i> > 0.05) with <i>L. pneumophila</i> concentrations and temperature, type of hot water system, age of system, age of house or frequency of use. This study demonstrated that domestic showers were frequently colonized by <i>Legionella</i> spp. and <i>L. pneumophila</i> and should be considered a potential source of sporadic Legionnaires’ disease. Increasing hot water temperature and running showers every week to enable water sitting in pipes to be replenished by the municipal water supply were identified as strategies to reduce the risk of <i>Legionella</i> in showers. The lack of public awareness in this study identified the need for public health campaigns to inform vulnerable populations of the steps they can take to reduce the risk of <i>Legionella</i> contamination and exposure.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/8/1/27<i>Legionella pneumophila</i>Legionnaires’ diseaseopportunistic pathogenspotable waterwater qualitypublic health |
| spellingShingle | Deanna Hayes-Phillips Richard Bentham Kirstin Ross Harriet Whiley Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers Pathogens <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> Legionnaires’ disease opportunistic pathogens potable water water quality public health |
| title | Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers |
| title_full | Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers |
| title_fullStr | Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers |
| title_short | Factors Influencing <i>Legionella</i> Contamination of Domestic Household Showers |
| title_sort | factors influencing i legionella i contamination of domestic household showers |
| topic | <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> Legionnaires’ disease opportunistic pathogens potable water water quality public health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/8/1/27 |
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