Environmental surveillance of Legionella pneumophila in distal water supplies of a hospital for early identification prevention of hospital-acquired legionellosis

摘要

Background & objectives:Legionella pneumophila, a ubiquitous aquatic organism is found to be associated with the development of the community as well as hospital-acquired pneumonia. Diagnosing Legionella infection is difficult unless supplemented with, diagnostic laboratory testing and established evidence for its presence in the hospital environment. Hence, the present study was undertaken to screen the hospital water supplies for the presence of L. pneumophila to show its presence in the hospital environment further facilitating early diagnosis and prevention of hospital-acquired legionellosis.