scholarly journals First reported isolation of an emerging opportunistic pathogen (Elizabethkingia anophelis) from hospital water systems in Greece

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Kyritsi ◽  
Varvara A. Mouchtouri ◽  
Spyros Pournaras ◽  
Christos Hadjichristodoulou

Abstract After the Elizabethkingia anophelis outbreak in Wisconsin, USA, an active search for the detection of the microorganism in hospital water systems from Central and Northern Greece was performed from June to December 2016. In total, 457 water samples from 11 hospitals were analyzed. Elizabethkingia spp. was detected in three samples collected from two hospitals, both of which are located in Northern Greece. Two of the three isolated strains were identified as Elizabethkingia anophelis. No cases of Elizabethkingia infection were reported in either hospital during 2016. This is the first reported isolation of the pathogen in water supply systems in Greece.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-595
Author(s):  
Tim Foster ◽  
Emily Rand ◽  
Erie Sami ◽  
Brieana Dance ◽  
Jeremy Kohlitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Piped water systems are considered to provide the highest service level for drinking water supplies; however, global monitoring of safe water access pays little attention to the type of water source that piped systems draw upon, even if the water is not treated prior to distribution. This study sought to understand whether the source of water for untreated piped supplies influences the prevalence of diarrhoea among children in rural Vanuatu. The analysis was based on a dataset integrating a Demographic and Health Survey and a nationwide water supply inventory. After adjusting for a range of potential confounders, the results revealed a significant association between diarrhoea and the type of water source supplying a piped system. Compared with borehole-supplied piped systems, spring-fed piped systems were significantly associated with increased odds of diarrhoea (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–31, p = 0.040). No significant association between diarrhoea and piped systems drawing on surface water was observed. Increased odds of diarrhoea were significantly associated with water supply systems constructed prior to the year 2000 (AOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9–13, p = 0.001). The results highlight the need for improvements in spring protection as well as ongoing maintenance and periodic renewal of water supply infrastructure. This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.


Author(s):  

The paper presents the results of the determination of heavy metals in drinking water samples from centralized water supply systems and wells of individual water supply of the Sverdlovsk region. It was found that the content of copper ions in the samples does not exceed its maximum permissible concentration, and the content of lead and cadmium ions in most samples is higher than the permissible norms. It is established that water samples from Nizhny Tagil and Serov are more contaminated with cadmium. The causes of drinking water pollution are discussed. It was found that the pollution of water from the centralized water supply systems with heavy metals is mainly due to the non-compliance of the operated water pipes with sanitary and hygienic requirements. Groundwater pollution is caused by the infiltration of industrial effluents containing heavy metals from storage and sedimentation tanks through soil. It is shown that numerous industrial enterprises in the Sverdlovsk region aggravate the process of pollution of surface and groundwater with heavy metals. The unsatisfactory quality of water in terms of the content of heavy metals in Sverdlovsk region is revealed. The authors dwell on the need to continue research to determine the content of other heavy metals in water and expand the geography of sampling in the region in order to assess more accurately the quality of water.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3278
Author(s):  
Armando Carravetta ◽  
Maurizio Giugni ◽  
Stefano Malavasi

The larger anthropic pressure on the Water Supply Systems (WSS) and the increasing concern for the sustainability of the large energy use for water supply, transportation, distribution, drainage and treatment are determining a new perspective in the management of water systems [...]


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2882
Author(s):  
Vasilis Kanakoudis ◽  
Stavroula Tsitsifli

This Special Issue addresses topics on the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus along with other water-related topics, such as water resources, irrigation and drinking water supply systems, hydraulics and pollution. Several threats jeopardize freshwater availability and quality, energy and food availability. Integrated management approaches are absolutely necessary for pursuing sustainability. This Special Issue addresses various subjects and includes 29 peer-reviewed papers that have been grouped into the following categories: the WEF nexus, water resources and irrigation systems, drinking water supply systems, hydraulics and pollution. Some of them were selected from the Third Efficient Water Systems (EWaS) International Conference, entitled “Insights on the Water–Energy–Food Nexus,” after a thorough content update. Summaries of the papers are briefly presented in this Editorial.


Author(s):  
Antonios Papadakis ◽  
Maria Keramarou ◽  
Dimosthenis Chochlakis ◽  
Vassilios Sandalakis ◽  
Varvara Mouchtouri ◽  
...  

Hotel water systems colonized with Legionella spp. have been the source of travel-associated Legionnaires’ disease and cases, clusters or outbreaks continue to be reported worldwide each year. A total of 132 hotels linked with travel-associated Legionnaires’ disease, as reported through the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network, were inspected and tested for Legionella spp. during 2000–2019 by the public health authorities of the island of Crete (Greece). A total of 3,311 samples were collected: 1,885 (56.93%) from cold water supply systems, 1,387 (41.89%) from hot water supply systems, 37 (1.12%) were swab samples and two (0.06%) were soil. Of those, 685 (20.69%), were collected from 83 (62.89%) hotels, testing positive (≥ 50CFU/L) for Legionella pneumophila) serogroups 1-10, 12-14 and non-pneumophila species (L. anisa, L. erythra, L. tusconensis, L. taurinensis, L. birminghamensis, L. rubrilucens, L. londiniesis, L. oakridgensis, L. santicrusis, L. brunensis, L. maceacherii). The most frequently isolated L. pneumophila serogroups were 1 (27.92%) and 3 (17.08%). Significantly higher isolation rates were obtained from hot water supply systems (25.96%) versus cold water systems (16.98%) and swab samples (13.51%). A Relative Risk (R.R.) > 1 (p < 0.0001) was calculated for hot water temperature <55 °C (R.R.: 4.43), chlorine concentrations <0.2 mg/L (R.R.: 2.69), star rating <4 (R.R.: 1.73) and absence of Water Safety Plan implementation (R.R.: 1.57).


2019 ◽  
Vol 265 ◽  
pp. 06016
Author(s):  
Vitaly Smirnov ◽  
Valentina Pomogaeva ◽  
Dmitriy Shlychkov

Supplying population of small municipalities with drinking water brings up a number of problems. The main ones are water production, its treatment and transportation. Studying the difficulties of supplying population with drinking water makes it possible to identify acute problems and to outline the prospects for the development of water supply systems. The statistical data on water supply problems are given. The dynamics of aging water systems is presented. Various water supply schemes are considered. There are highlighted unique details of each water supply system, that require an individual approach, careful preparation and analysis of the initial data, and performance of quite complex technical and economic calculations. The options for combining existing systems and their reconstruction are discussed. Water supply systems with a water tower are analyzed. Ways out of the crisis in water supply field are suggested.


2022 ◽  
Vol 2150 (1) ◽  
pp. 012034
Author(s):  
P V Rotov ◽  
A A Sivukhin ◽  
M A Rotova ◽  
R A Gafurov ◽  
A V Gorshkov

Abstract The compliance of the actual heat consumption for heating cold water for public hot water supply service with the approved standard has been analyzed. Using passive engineering experiments, we studied the operating modes of hot water supply systems for several groups of houses, in which different methods for regulating water consumption in hot water supply systems were used. Data were collected using online energy monitoring and commercial metering system. Features of the static and dynamic load regulation of hot water systems have been investigated. The effect of methods for regulating the heat load of hot water supply systems on their actual heat consumption has been analyzed. An assessment has been made of the possibility of bringing the actual operating mode of the hot water systems to the specified value which is the basis for calculating the consumption rate. Ways to improve the efficiency of hot water supply systems have been determined. Conclusions have been drawn concerning the need to revise the standardized indicators of hot water quality and adjust the methodology for calculating the consumption rate in hot water supply systems.


2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
L. V. Didenko ◽  
O. V. Sadretdinova ◽  
N. V. Shevlyagina ◽  
G. A. Avtandilov ◽  
I. V Novokshonova ◽  
...  

The specific features of the structural organization of biofilms formed with the participation of Legionella in the water supply systems of health care facilities (HCF) and in the water-cooling towers of industrial enterprises in the Moscow Region were studied to elaborate new approaches to preventing legionellosis in the potentially dangerous water systems. A massive Legionella biofilm in association with other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was shown to form for 2-3 weeks on the protective antibacterial filters built in the hot water supply systems of the risk-group units of HCFs. The specific features of the structural organization of biofilms of Legionella onto surface of water-cooling towers, which were a set of a few systematic groups of microorganisms, such as fungi, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and cyanobacteriae located in the presence of a matrix and metal inclusions. The results confirm that it is necessary to destruct and prevent the formation of natural Legionella biofilms in the potentially dangerous water systems, which is an essential component of the current strategy for the prevention of legionellosis.


Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valciņa ◽  
Pūle ◽  
Mališevs ◽  
Trofimova ◽  
Makarova ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Legionella is one of the most important water-related pathogens. Inside the water supply systems and the biofilms, Legionella interact with other bacteria and free-living amoeba (FLA). Several amoebas may serve as hosts for bacteria in aquatic systems. This study aimed to investigate the co-occurrence of Legionella spp. and FLA in drinking water supply systems. Materials and Methods: A total of 268 water samples were collected from apartment buildings, hotels, and public buildings. Detection of Legionella spp. was performed in accordance with ISO 11731:2017 standard. Three different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols were used to identify FLA. Results: Occurrence of Legionella varied from an average of 12.5% in cold water samples with the most frequent occurrence observed in hot water, in areas receiving untreated groundwater, where 54.0% of the samples were Legionella positive. The occurrence of FLA was significantly higher. On average, 77.2% of samples contained at least one genus of FLA and, depending on the type of sample, the occurrence of FLA could reach 95%. In the samples collected during the study, Legionella was always isolated along with FLA, no samples containing Legionella in the absence of FLA were observed. Conclusions: The data obtained in our study can help to focus on the extensive distribution, close interaction, and long-term persistence of Legionella and FLA. Lack of Legionella risk management plans and control procedures may promote further spread of Legionella in water supply systems. In addition, the high incidence of Legionella-related FLA suggests that traditional monitoring methods may not be sufficient for Legionella control.


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