<i>Legionella</i> detection and enumeration in water samples by ISO 11731-2017: which method is the most sensitive?

ABSTRACT: Legionnaires' disease is a severe pneumonia caused by inhalation of Legionella-contaminated aerosols. The prevention of Legionella relies on water disinfection and on accurate water testing to assess the effectiveness of these interventions. The norm ISO 11731:2017 provides multiple culture-based methods for detecting Legionella in water and recommends taking into account the most unfavorable result. This study evaluated six ISO-standardized techniques, including variations in media, concentration, and pre-treatments (heat or acid), applied to 276 hospital hot water samples. Legionella was detected in 120 samples, with substantial variability across methods. The most sensitive single technique (76%) was concentration and elution with membrane filter on GVPC medi

SUBMITTER: Grandbastien B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12628763 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature