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. 2004 Mar;10(3):457-64.
doi: 10.3201/eid1003.020707.

Legionella infection risk from domestic hot water

Paola Borella  1 , M Teresa Montagna, Vincenzo Romano-Spica, Serena Stampi, Giovanna Stancanelli, Maria Triassi, Rachele Neglia, Isabella Marchesi, Guglielmina Fantuzzi, Daniela Tatò, Christian Napoli, Gianluigi Quaranta, Patrizia Laurenti, Erica Leoni, Giovanna De Luca, Cristina Ossi, Matteo Moro, Gabriella Ribera D'Alcalà
Affiliations

Legionella infection risk from domestic hot water

Paola Borella et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Mar.

Erratum in

  • Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 Jul;10(7):1353

Abstract

We investigated Legionella and Pseudomonas contamination of hot water in a cross-sectional multicentric survey in Italy. Chemical parameters (hardness, free chlorine, and trace elements) were determined. Legionella spp. were detected in 33 (22.6%) and Pseudomonas spp. in 56 (38.4%) of 146 samples. Some factors associated with Legionella contamination were heater type, tank distance and capacity, water plant age, and mineral content. Pseudomonas presence was influenced by water source, hardness, free chlorine, and temperature. Legionella contamination was associated with a centralized heater, distance from the heater point >10 m, and a water plant >10 years old. Furthermore, zinc levels of <100 microg/L and copper levels of >50 microg/L appeared to be protective against Legionella colonization [corrected]. Legionella species and serogroups were differently distributed according to heater type, water temperature, and free chlorine, suggesting that Legionella strains may have a different sensibility and resistance to environmental factors and different ecologic niches.

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