Environmental surveillance of Legionella pneumophila in hot water systems of hotels in Morocco

OBJECTIVE

Environmental monitoring of Legionella in hot water systems of hotels in Morocco was performed during the period from January 2016 to April 2018. A total of 149 water samples from 118 different hotels were analyzed.

METHODS

A total of 149 water samples from 118 different hotels were analyzed. Possible risk factors were prospectively recorded, and data were analyzed in connection with building and plumbing systems characteristics. Data about building and risk factors were collected through a questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

Out of the 149 samples, 77(51.7%) were positive for L. pneumophila. Serological typing of the isolates revealed that 54 (70.1%) are L. pneumophila serogroup 2-15 and 23 (29.9%) are L. pneumophila serogroup 1. 56.8% of all buildings were colonized by L. pneumophila. Counts were over 1,000 CFU/L in 44%. Contamination was strongly correlated with temperature in the circulation, the age of the premise plumbing and the size of the building.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed a relevant exposure to L. pneumophila in the community and the identified risk factors can serve as indicators for risk assessment and relevant actions.

Role of biofilms in the survival of Legionella pneumophila to sodium chloride treatment

Background and Objectives

Legionnaires' disease continues to be a public health concern. Colonized water distribution systems are often implicated in Legionella transmission, despite the use of various disinfection strategies, the bacterium is capable to persist and survive in water systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the persistence of Legionella pneumophila to sodium chloride over time at different temperatures and analysing the role of biofilms in the survival of this bacteria.

Materials and Methods

L. pneumophila serogroup 1 and L. pneumophila serogroup 2-15 were used to study the effect of sodium chloride on planktonic and sessile cells. The tested concentrations were: 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 6% and 8% (W/V) NaCl. Biofilms were grown on 24-well microplates.

Results

At 20°C, L. pneumophila planktonic cells were able to survive in sodium chloride concentrations up to 2%. However, at 37°C, a sodium chloride concentration over 1.5%, reduced systematically the numbers of bacterial cells. Biofilms were grown for 20 days in the absence and presence of sodium chloride. The results show that bacterial strains were able to survive and regrow after the sodium chloride shock (2-3%). Moreover, it seems that this effect is less expressed with the age of the biofilm; old biofilms were more persistent than the young ones.

Conclusion

Results from this study demonstrate that the sodium chloride disinfection strategy was effective on Legionella pneumophila planktonic cells but not on biofilms, which demonstrate the role of biofilms in the persistence and recolonization of L. pneumophila in water distribution systems.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Legionella spp. Strains Isolated from Water Systems in Morocco

Objective: Legionella is a waterborne pathogen that causes a severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' diseases, which is normally acquired by inhalation of aerosols containing Legionella originating from natural and man-made water systems. The aim of this study was to describe the level of antimicrobial susceptibility of environmental Legionella spp. strains to preferred and recommended therapeutic agents to treat Legionella disease. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 60 environmental Legionella spp. strains were tested using the broth dilution method. Susceptibility testing was performed for 12 antimicrobial agents: macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin [AZI], and clarithromycin [CLA]), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gemifloxacin), a ketolide (telithromycin), cefotaxime (CEF), tigecycline (TIG), doxycycline (DOX), and rifampicin (RIF). Results: All tested strains of Legionella spp. were inhibited by low concentrations of fluoroquinolones and macrolides. Regarding the macrolides, CLA was the most active antibiotic, and AZI was the least active. RIF was the most effective antibiotic against the isolates in vitro. All isolates were inhibited by the following antibiotics (in decreasing order of their MICs): DOX>CEF>TIG. Conclusions: No resistance against these drugs was detected, and all isolates were inhibited by low concentrations of the tested antibiotics. Susceptibility testing of environmental Legionella spp. isolates must be monitored often to detect and evaluate the possible development of antibiotic resistance.

Adhesion of Legionella pneumophila on glass and plumbing materials commonly used in domestic water systems

We aimed to investigate the adhesion of Legionella pneumophila serogroup1 and L. pneumophila serogroup2-15 on glass, galvanized steel, stainless steel, copper, Polyvinyl chloride(PVC), Cross-linked polyethylene(PEX-c) and Polypropylene Random Copolymer(PPR). The surface physicochemical properties of both bacterial cells and materials were estimated through contact angle measurements. The roughness and surface topography of the materials were evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy. The two L. pneumophila serogroups and plumbing materials showed a hydrophobic character, while glass surface was hydrophilic. All strains were adhered to all materials with the exception of copper. The result showed that the adhesion of both L. pneumophila sg1 and sg2-15 was systematically expressed with high intensity on galvanized steel followed by PVC, PEX-c, PPR, stainless steel and the low intensity on glass. The extent of adhesion is in correlation with the surface roughness and acid-bases interactions, while hydrophobicity seems to have no effect in adhesion intensity.

Association between plasmid carrying an expanded-spectrum cephalosporin resistance and biofilm formation in Escherichia coli

The formation of biofilm is a universal bacterial survival strategy. Biofilms occur on inert and living support in the natural environment and in industrial installations. This microenvironment leads to the horizontal transfer of genetic material between bacteria by physical contact. In order to evaluate the relationship between biofilm-forming capabilities, surface characteristics and plasmid content we purified from Salmonella a plasmid conferring resistance to cephalosporin and transferred it by electroporation to E.coli DH10B originally unable to form biofilm in inert surface. We demonstrated the association between a plasmid conferring resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporin and biofilm formation. We also noted that this plasmid influences the cell surface properties and cell motility.