[Contamination of health care institutions environmental objects by Legionella pneumophila].

UNLABELLED: AIM. The extent of environmental objects contamination by Legionella pneumophila in Nizhny Novgorod and Nizhny Novgorod region hospitals evaluation, and detection of potentially hazardous objects.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

433 swabs of environmental objects, and 43 hot water supply and pool water samples from various departments of 4 multi-disciplinary hospitals were studies. DNA from environmental samples was detected by using real time PCR.

RESULTS

L. pneumophila DNA was detected in 41 (9,47%) samples from environmental objects and in 2 (4,65%) samples from hot water supply. These bacteria were more frequently detected in environmental samples from physiotherapy departments. Repeated detection of legionellae from the same objects was registered.

CONCLUSION

Circulation of legionellae in multidisciplinary hospitals was determined. Circulation high risk departments and risk objects--reservoirs of L. pneumophila in health care institutions were determined.