Soil as a source of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1)

Wallis, Lara; Robinson, Priscilla

doi:10.1111/j.1467-842x.2005.tb00242.x

Cited by 34 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This species may be found and persist in a variety of soils. [37][38][39][40][41] L. longbeachae is not commonly isolated from water; instead, disease seems to be associated with potting mixes, composts, and soil products (particularly those subjected to high heat and moisture). 42 Similarly, it has been hypothesized that soil may serve as a source of Mycobacterium leprae and other mycobacterial infections.…”

Section: -27mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil-Related Bacterial and Fungal Infections

Baumgardner

2012

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

104

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A variety of classic and emerging soil-related bacterial and fungal pathogens cause serious human disease that frequently presents in primary care settings. Typically, the growth of these microorganisms is favored by particular soil characteristics and may involve complex life cycles including amoebae or animal hosts. Specific evolved virulence factors or the ability to grow in diverse, sometimes harsh, microenvironments may promote pathogenesis. Infection may occur by direct inoculation or ingestion, ingestion of contaminated food, or inhalation. This narrative review describes the usual presentations and environmental sources of soil-related infections. In addition to tetanus, anthrax, and botulism, soil bacteria may cause gastrointestinal, wound, skin, and respiratory tract diseases that also should be considered, particularly in the case of wound, respiratory tract, or gastrointestinal infections. The purpose of this article is to review bacterial and fungal infections for which the source of contact is primarily the soil (eg, Clostridium tetani) or for which soil is an important or emerging secondary site of contact (eg, Legionella). The emphasis of this article will be on the epidemiology of significant soil-related human pathogens and their common disease presentations such that these entities will be considered promptly during relevant patient evaluations. (The reader is referred to recent texts and manuscripts for details regarding unusual presentations and the diagnosis and treatment of these infections and for discussion of superficial soil-related infections, such as dermatophyte infections, which will not be covered here.) Soil MicrobiologySoil 1,3 is a multilayered surface complex of mineral and organic (humus) constituents present in solid, liquid, and gaseous states. The mineral portion of soil results from the actions of weathering and erosion on rock. Broad soil type-sand, silt, or clay-is defined, largest to smallest, by particle size. These particles pack loosely, and pore spaces of varying sizes are formed. Particle surfaces, pore spaces, and plant roots are particular habitats for microorganisms, often in biofilms. Soil also contains plants, animals, carcasses, and man-made materials.The quantity and type of microorganisms in a particular portion of soil are determined by a complex interaction of varying amounts of sunlight, temperature, moisture, soil pH, nutrients, and reThis article was externally peer reviewed.

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Section: -27mentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil-Related Bacterial and Fungal Infections

Baumgardner

2012

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

104

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“…Of all species isolated, L. pneumophila, L. longbeachae, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella micdadei and Legionella anisa are known to cause disease in humans [1]; however, with the exception of one case of L. pneumophila Sg 1 [14], only L. longbeachae has been directly linked to cases of infection where compost or potting soils were cited as the source of infection [7,9]. Although Legionella species have been isolated from UK composts [3,15], studies have only looked at very small sample sizes, and to date, a study examining the prevalence of Legionella in a wide range of UK composts has not been undertaken.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Legionella spp. in UK composts—a potential public health issue?

Currie

Beattie

Knapp

et al. 2014

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

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Over the past 5 years, a number of cases of legionellosis in Scotland have been associated with compost use; however, studies investigating sources of infection other than water systems remain limited. This study delivers the first comprehensive survey of composts commonly available in the UK for the presence of Legionella species. Twenty-two store-bought composts, one green-waste compost and one home-made compost were tested for Legionella by culture methods on BCYE-α medium, and the findings were confirmed by macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) speciation. Twenty-two of the samples were retested after an enrichment period of 8 weeks. In total, 15 of 24 composts tested positive for Legionella species, a higher level of contamination than previously seen in Europe. Two isolates of Legionella pneumophila were identified, and Legionella longbeachae serogroup 1 was found to be one of the most commonly isolated species. L. longbeachae infection would not be detected by routine Legionella urinary antigen assay, so such testing should not be used as the sole diagnostic technique in atypical pneumonia cases, particularly where there is an association with compost use. The occurrence of Legionella in over half of the samples tested indicates that compost could pose a public health risk. The addition of general hygiene warnings to compost packages may be beneficial in protecting public health.

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“…Recently, researchers showed that when a rain droplet hits soil, 0.01% of the bacteria on the soil surface are emitted into air as a bioaerosol. 107 Legionella has been shown to persist in soil, 108-110 and it is possible that the bacteria could be aerosolized either through rainfall or wind-induced suspension. Although some of the bacteria in the soil may come from industrial waste or cooling towers, Rowbotham 111 suggested that amoebae in soil might enhance the growth of Legionella .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ten questions concerning the aerosolization and transmission of Legionella in the built environment

Prussin

Schwake

Marr

2017

Building and Environment

101

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Legionella is a genus of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria responsible for a serious disease known as legionellosis, which is transmitted via inhalation of this pathogen in aerosol form. There are two forms of legionellosis: Legionnaires' disease, which causes pneumonia-like symptoms, and Pontiac fever, which causes influenza-like symptoms. Legionella can be aerosolized from various water sources in the built environment including showers, faucets, hot tubs/swimming pools, cooling towers, and fountains. Incidence of the disease is higher in the summertime, possibly because of increased use of cooling towers for air conditioning systems and differences in water chemistry when outdoor temperatures are higher. Although there have been decades of research related to Legionella transmission, many knowledge gaps remain. While conventional wisdom suggests that showering is an important source of exposure in buildings, existing measurements do not provide strong support for this idea. There has been limited research on the potential for Legionella transmission through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Epidemiological data suggest a large proportion of legionellosis cases go unreported, as most people who are infected do not seek medical attention. Additionally, controlled laboratory studies examining water-to-air transfer and source tracking are still needed. Herein, we discuss ten questions that spotlight current knowledge about Legionella transmission in the built environment, engineering controls that might prevent future disease outbreaks, and future research that is needed to advance understanding of transmission and control of legionellosis.

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Soil as a source of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1)

Cited by 34 publications

References 7 publications

Soil-Related Bacterial and Fungal Infections

Soil-Related Bacterial and Fungal Infections

Legionella spp. in UK composts—a potential public health issue?

Ten questions concerning the aerosolization and transmission of Legionella in the built environment

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