%0 Journal Article
%T Detection and Quantification of Legionella pneumophila from Water Systems in Kuwait Residential Facilities
%A Qadreyah A. Al-Matawah
%A Sameer F. Al-Zenki
%A Jafer A. Qasem
%A Tahani E. Al-Waalan
%A Ahmed H. Ben Heji
%J Journal of Pathogens
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/138389
%X The prevalence of Legionella pneumophilia in water systems of residential facilities in Kuwait was performed during the period from November 2007 to November 2011. A total of 204 water samples collected from faucets and showerheads in bathrooms (n = 82), taps in kitchens (n = 51), and water tanks (n = 71), from different locations of residential facilities in Kuwait were screened for Legionella pneumophila by the standard culture method and by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of the 204 samples, 89 (43.6%) samples were positive for Legionella spp., 48 (23.5%) samples were detected by the standard culture method, and 85 (41.7%) were detected by RT-PCR. Of the culture positive Legionella samples, counts ranged between 10 to 2250 CFU/L. Serological typing of 48 Legionella isolates revealed that 6 (12.5%) of these isolates belonged to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, 37 (77.1%) isolates to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3, and 1 isolate each (2.1%) belonged to serogroups 4, 7, and 10. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of the 46 environmental L. pneumophila isolates against the 10 antimicrobials commonly used for Legionella infection treatments were determined. Rifampicin was found to be the most active against L. pneumophila serogroups isolates in vitro. 1. Introduction Outbreaks of Legionnaires¡¯ disease have been worldwide traced to a wide variety of environmental water sources such as cooling towers, hot tubs, showerheads, whirlpools and spas, and public fountains [1, 2]. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for up to 80% of Legionnaires¡¯ disease reported cases [3, 4]. The potential health risk of Legionella to humans is theoretically associated with cells densities above 104 to 105 CFU per liter of water [5, 6]. Commonly used method for environmental surveillance of Legionella is the standard culture technique [7, 8]. Although the standard culture method allows the isolation and the quantification of Legionella from the environment, it does have its limitations: it requires selective media and prolonged incubation periods; bacterial loss can occur during the concentration stage followed by decontamination with heat or acid; interference of background organisms with Legionella growth may lead to an underestimation of the real number of Legionella present in the sample; Legionella spp. may enter a viable but noncultivable state, making it difficult to culture from water samples [9]. Recently, rapid and sensitive alternative methods have been found to be attractive alternatives to the conventional culture method
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jpath/2012/138389/