ArticleBMC microbiology2015
Comparing methods of determining Legionella spp. in complex water matrices.
Article in BMC microbiology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 37 citations in OpenAlex.
- Review Global seroprevalence of legionellosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2020Pooled it
- A photoactivation-free viability PCR reagent for rapid, culture-independent detection of live bacteria.Microbiology spectrum · 2026Article
- PCR-BasedMicroorganisms · 2025Article
- Increasing Detection of Legionnaires' Disease in a Large Italian Hospital in the Period 2016-2023.Journal of epidemiology and global health · 2024Article
- Performance evaluation of a low-throughput qPCR-based Legionella assay for utility as an onsite industrial water system monitoring method.Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology · 2024Article
- Heterotrophic Plate Count Can Predict the Presence ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Evaluation of a Most Probable Number Method for Detection and Quantification ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Confirming the Presence of Legionella pneumophila in Your Water System: A Review of Current Legionella Testing Methods.Journal of AOAC International · 2021Review
- Comparison of Updated Methods forInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Rapid Testing and Interventions to ControlMicroorganisms · 2021Article
- Rapid culture-based detection of Legionella pneumophila using isothermal microcalorimetry with an improved evaluation method.Microbial biotechnology · 2020Article
- New approach to environmental investigation of an explosive legionnaires´ disease outbreak in Spain: early identification of potential risk sources by rapid Legionella spp immunosensing technique.BMC infectious diseases · 2018Article
- Surveillance of parasitic Legionella in surface waters by using immunomagnetic separation and amoebae enrichment.Pathogens and global health · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLegionella testing conducted at environmental laboratories plays an essential role in assessing the risk of disease transmission associated with water systems. However, drawbacks of culture-based methodology used for Legionella enumeration can have great impact on the results and interpretation which together can lead to underestimation of the actual risk. Up to 20% of the samples analysed by these laboratories produced inconclusive results, making effective risk management impossible. Overgrowth of competing microbiota was reported as an important factor for culture failure. For quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the interpretation of the results from the environmental samples still remains a challenge. Inhibitors may cause up to 10% of inconclusive results. This study compared a quantitative method based on immunomagnetic separation (IMS method) with culture and qPCR, as a new approach to routine monitoring of Legionella.
resultsFirst, pilot studies evaluated the recovery and detectability of Legionella spp using an IMS method, in the presence of microbiota and biocides. The IMS method results were not affected by microbiota while culture counts were significantly reduced (1.4 log) or negative in the same samples. Damage by biocides of viable Legionella was detected by the IMS method. Secondly, a total of 65 water samples were assayed by all three techniques (culture, qPCR and the IMS method). Of these, 27 (41.5%) were recorded as positive by at least one test. Legionella spp was detected by culture in 7 (25.9%) of the 27 samples. Eighteen (66.7%) of the 27 samples were positive by the IMS method, thirteen of them reporting counts below 10(3) colony forming units per liter (CFU l(-1)), six presented interfering microbiota and three presented PCR inhibition. Of the 65 water samples, 24 presented interfering microbiota by culture and 8 presented partial or complete inhibition of the PCR reaction. So the rate of inconclusive results of culture and PCR was 36.9 and 12.3%, respectively, without any inconclusive results reported for the IMS method.
conclusionThe IMS method generally improved the recovery and detectability of Legionella in environmental matrices, suggesting the possibility to use IMS method as valuable indicator of risk. Thus, this method may significantly improve our knowledge about the exposure risk to these bacteria, allowing us to implement evidence-based monitoring and disinfection strategies.
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