일부 대중 목욕탕 욕수의 레지오넬라균 분포실태 및 혈청학적 특성

Prevalence and Serological Characteristics of Legionella spp. Isolated in Public Spas

&nbsp;&nbsp;This study was to determine the prevalence of Legionella species in public spas and to know that the presence of Legionella was correlated with other microbiological parameters. A total of 81 water samples were collected from 30 different public spas and sudatoriums so called zzimzilbang in Korea.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Although Legionella was not detected in raw water(tap water) and the cold tub water, of the 38 samples of hot and warm water taken from public tubs, 11 samples(28.8%) were found to be positive for Legionella spp. All of the isolates were identified as a species L. pneumophila serogroups 1 and 2-14 by latex agglutination. The levels of L. pneumophila were fairly distributed over a broad range of concentrations from ＜10² cfu/㎖ to 10⁴ /㎖, with 1 of a spas in the ＜100 cfu/㎖, 4 spas in the 10² to 10³ cfu/㎖, and 2 spas had levels of culturable L. pneumophila. ＞104 cfu/㎖.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;And HPC concentrations in all spa waters isolated Legionella were above the level of 104 cfu/ml. Total coliforms were detected in 45% of the samples and were grew in even raw water. But total coliform was not detected in the majority of Legionella-positive samples. The correlation between the presence of Legionella and total coliforms was not showed in the tub water.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;On the basis of these results, it would appeared that Legionella proliferate primarily in inadequate tubs to control the total bacteria numbers.