IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v13y2016i2p211-d63593.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cultural and Molecular Evidence of Legionella spp. Colonization in Dental Unit Waterlines: Which Is the Best Method for Risk Assessment?

Author

Listed:
  • Savina Ditommaso

    (Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, P.zza Polonia 94, Turin 10126, Italy)

  • Monica Giacomuzzi

    (Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, P.zza Polonia 94, Turin 10126, Italy)

  • Elisa Ricciardi

    (Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, P.zza Polonia 94, Turin 10126, Italy)

  • Carla M. Zotti

    (Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, P.zza Polonia 94, Turin 10126, Italy)

Abstract

Legionella spp . are ubiquitous in aquatic habitats and water distribution systems, including dental unit waterlines (DUWLs). The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Legionella in DUWLs and tap water samples using PMA-qPCR and standard culture methods. The total viable counts (TVCs) of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria in the samples were also determined. Legionella spp. were detected and quantified using the modified ISO 11731 culture method. Extracted genomic DNA was analysed using the iQ-Check Quanti Legionella spp. kit, and the TVCs were determined according to the ISO protocol 6222. Legionella spp. were detected in 100% of the samples using the PMA-qPCR method, whereas these bacteria were detected in only 7% of the samples using the culture method. The number of colony forming units (CFUs) of the TVCs in the DUWL and tap water samples differed, with the bacterial load being significantly lower in the tap water samples ( p -value = 0). The counts obtained were within the Italian standard range established for potable water in only 5% of the DUWL water samples and in 77% of the tap water samples. Our results show that the level of Legionella spp. contamination determined using the culture method does not reflect the true scale of the problem, and consequently we recommend testing for the presence of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria based on the assumption that Legionella spp. are components of biofilms.

Suggested Citation

  • Savina Ditommaso & Monica Giacomuzzi & Elisa Ricciardi & Carla M. Zotti, 2016. "Cultural and Molecular Evidence of Legionella spp. Colonization in Dental Unit Waterlines: Which Is the Best Method for Risk Assessment?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:2:p:211-:d:63593
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/2/211/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/2/211/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Erica Leoni & Laura Dallolio & Francesca Stagni & Tiziana Sanna & Giovanni D'Alessandro & Gabriela Piana, 2015. "Impact of a Risk Management Plan on Legionella Contamination of Dental Unit Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Savina Ditommaso & Monica Giacomuzzi & Elisa Ricciardi & Carla M. Zotti, 2016. "Efficacy of a Low Dose of Hydrogen Peroxide (Peroxy Ag + ) for Continuous Treatment of Dental Unit Water Lines: Challenge Test with Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 in a Simulated Dental Unit Waterl," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Sara Bonetta & Cristina Pignata & Silvia Bonetta & Lorenza Meucci & Donatella Giacosa & Elena Marino & Giorgio Gilli & Elisabetta Carraro, 2017. "Viability of Legionella pneumophila in Water Samples: A Comparison of Propidium Monoazide (PMA) Treatment on Membrane Filters and in Liquid," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-8, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Savina Ditommaso & Monica Giacomuzzi & Elisa Ricciardi & Carla M. Zotti, 2016. "Efficacy of a Low Dose of Hydrogen Peroxide (Peroxy Ag + ) for Continuous Treatment of Dental Unit Water Lines: Challenge Test with Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 in a Simulated Dental Unit Waterl," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-10, July.
    2. Samuel Dorevitch, 2015. "Health Effects of Waterborne Contaminants: A Focus on Emerging Concerns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-3, October.
    3. Alexandre Baudet & Julie Lizon & Jean-Marc Martrette & Frédéric Camelot & Arnaud Florentin & Céline Clément, 2020. "Efficacy of BRS ® and Alpron ® /Bilpron ® Disinfectants for Dental Unit Waterlines: A Six-Year Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-9, April.
    4. Anna Maria Spagnolo & Marina Sartini & David Di Cave & Beatrice Casini & Benedetta Tuvo & Maria Luisa Cristina, 2019. "Evaluation of Microbiological and Free-Living Protozoa Contamination in Dental Unit Waterlines," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-11, July.
    5. Erica Leoni & Federica Catalani & Sofia Marini & Laura Dallolio, 2018. "Legionellosis Associated with Recreational Waters: A Systematic Review of Cases and Outbreaks in Swimming Pools, Spa Pools, and Similar Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Alexandre Baudet & Julie Lizon & Jean-Marc Martrette & Frédéric Camelot & Arnaud Florentin & Céline Clément, 2019. "Dental Unit Waterlines: A Survey of Practices in Eastern France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-8, November.
    7. Orlando J. Castellano Realpe & Johanna C. Gutiérrez & Deisy A. Sierra & Lourdes A. Pazmiño Martínez & Yrneh Y. Prado Palacios & Gustavo Echeverría & Jacobus H. de Waard, 2020. "Dental Unit Waterlines in Quito and Caracas Contaminated with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: A Potential Health Risk in Dental Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-11, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:2:p:211-:d:63593. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.