The prevalence of free-living amoebae in a South African hospital water distribution system

Authors

  • Petros Muchesa Water and Health Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Tobias G. Barnard Water and Health Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Catheleen Bartie Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute for Occupational Health, Johannesburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2015/20140278

Keywords:

free-living amoebae, nosocomial infections, Acanthamoeba, Hartmanella, Balamuthia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of free-living amoebae in the water system of a teaching hospital in Johannesburg (South Africa). Water and biofilm samples were collected from the theatres, theatre sterilisation service unit, central sterilisation service unit and endoscopy/bronchoscopy unit. The samples were filtered and seeded on non-nutrient agar spread with heat-killed Escherichia coli. Of the 71 samples collected, 63 (88.7%) were positive for free-living amoeba. Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia spp. and Hartmanella spp. were identified by morphology. The presence of free-living amoeba in the hospital water network may be a potential health risk.

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Published

2015-01-29

Issue

Vol. 111 No. 1/2 (2015)

Section

Research Letter

License

Creative Commons License
All articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Copyright is retained by the authors. Readers are welcome to reproduce, share and adapt the content without permission provided the source is attributed.

Disclaimer: The publisher and editors accept no responsibility for statements made by the authors

How to Cite

Muchesa, P., Barnard, T. G., & Bartie, C. (2015). The prevalence of free-living amoebae in a South African hospital water distribution system. South African Journal of Science, 111(1/2), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2015/20140278
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