Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Lett Appl Microbiol. 2021 Nov;73(5):616-622. doi: 10.1111/lam.13546. Epub 2021 Aug 14.
Legionella longbeachae has been frequently identified in composted plant material and can cause Legionnaires' disease (LD). We wanted to determine how frequently L. longbeachae DNA was present on gardeners' gloves, and how long L. longbeachae could persist on inoculated gloves and masks. Volunteers completed a survey of gardening practices and their gardening gloves were tested for L. longbeachae DNA by qPCR. The persistence of viable L. longbeachae was assessed by timed subcultures after inoculation of gardening gloves and masks. Gloves but not masks were used regularly. L. longbeachae was detected on 11 (14%; 95% CI 8-24%) gloves. Viable organisms were recovered from 25-50% of inoculated cotton, leather and PU coated gloves but not rubber gloves after 8 h incubation. There was a difference in dose-response curve slopes by glove material (P = 0·001) and time to 50% sterility (P = 0·036). There were differences in persistence of L. longbeachae between mask types from analysis of the slopes and 50% sterility on the decay curves (P = 0·042, P < 0·001 respectively). Gardening gloves and masks may act as a vector for transmission of L. longbeachae during gardening. Washing gardening gloves and prompt disposal of masks could reduce risk of LD.
长滩军团菌经常在堆肥植物材料中被发现，并且可以引起军团病（LD）。我们想确定长滩军团菌 DNA 在园丁手套上出现的频率，以及接种手套和口罩上的长滩军团菌能存活多久。志愿者完成了一项园艺实践调查，并用 qPCR 检测他们的园艺手套上是否存在长滩军团菌 DNA。通过接种园艺手套和口罩后的定时传代培养来评估活的长滩军团菌的持久性。只使用手套而不使用口罩。在 11 个（14%；95%CI 8-24%）手套上检测到长滩军团菌。在接种后的 8 小时孵育后，从接种的棉花、皮革和 PU 涂层手套中回收了 25-50%的有活力的生物体，但从橡胶手套中未回收。通过手套材料的剂量-反应曲线斜率（P=0·001）和达到 50%无菌性的时间（P=0·036）差异，可以看出不同的斜率和衰退曲线 50%无菌性之间存在差异（P=0·042，P<0·001）。园艺手套和口罩可能在园艺过程中充当长滩军团菌传播的媒介。清洗园艺手套并及时处理口罩可以降低 LD 的风险。
