Spp. Monitoring in the Water Supply Systems of Accommodation Facilities in Sardinia, Italy: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2023 Sep 27

PMID 37754582

Authors

Luisa Marras

Giacomo Bertolino

Adriana Sanna

Valentina Carraro

Valentina Coroneo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Travel-associated Legionnaires' disease is a significant public health concern worldwide. A high number of cases are reported every year among travellers who stay at guest houses, hotels, and spas. Indeed, hot water systems, showers, and air-conditioning systems can be contaminated by , which grows at 25-42 °C. Studies have shown that in Sardinia, especially during the summer months, the water circulation in the hotels' pipes is exposed to extremely high temperatures. As a result, this study was conducted to assess the colonization of hotel water systems by in Sardinia, concerning a recent EU directive 2020/2184 for drinking water with a limit of 1000 CFU /L. Methods. A total of 112 accommodation facilities were analyzed, of which 61.3% were found to be colonized with , and out of a total of 807 samples, 32.5% were positive for presence. The results showed a higher number of positive samples in the summer season. This was also associated with the higher concentration presence of >1000 CFU/L in the samples. Consequently, this study confirms that local hotel operators should improve their water safety and prevention plans, especially in spring and summer.

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