Correlation between Legionella contamination in water and surrounding air

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006 Jul;27(7):771-3. doi: 10.1086/504446. Epub 2006 Jun 22.

Abstract

We evaluated Legionella pneumophila contamination of water and surrounding air in a burn care department equipped with bathtubs. In water, the bacterium always aerosolized, but in surrounding air, it diluted itself to such a point that it became undetectable at 1 m or more from the source of emission, which indicated that patients were at low risk of inhaling a dangerous quantity of the microbe.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Microbiology*
  • Burns / therapy
  • Hospital Units
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila / isolation & purification*
  • Water Microbiology*