Detection and Quantification ofLegionella pneumophilafrom Water Systems in Kuwait Residential Facilities

摘要

The prevalence ofLegionella pneumophiliain 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 forLegionella pneumophilaby the standard culture method and by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of the 204 samples, 89 (43.6%) samples were positive forLegionellaspp., 48 (23.5%) samples were detected by the standard culture method, and 85 (41.7%) were detected by RT-PCR. Of the culture positiveLegionellasamples, counts ranged between 10 to 2250 CFU/L. Serological typing of 48Legionellaisolates revealed that 6 (12.5%) of these isolates belonged toLegionella pneumophilaserogroup 1, 37 (77.1%) isolates toLegionella pneumophilaserogroup 3, and 1 isolate each (2.1%) belonged to serogroups 4, 7, and 10. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of the 46 environmentalL. pneumophilaisolates against the 10 antimicrobials commonly used forLegionellainfection treatments were determined. Rifampicin was found to be the most active againstL. pneumophilaserogroups isolatesin vitro.