Biohazard Legionella in health care facilities in Rome and province

Background: Legionella is a causative agent of bacterial pneumonia, a risk factor for pneumonia for patients, but also for workers. Objectives: The authors describe the cases arising from the activities of prevention and control operating within the province of Rome by the Lazio Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPALazio). Methods: 4354 samples were analyzed, as follows: 27.65% in 2007, 35% in 2008 and 37.35% in 2009. The activity sampling was evenly distributed between 25% and 30% in each quarter of year. Results: In 2007 the non-compliant samples are 10.60%, to become 24.57% in 2008 and finally 26.63% in 2009. The level of contamination is low in 13%, 11% medium and high in 3% of the total. Conclusions: The Legionella contamination does not present a specific distribution in the four quarters of time considered for each year or a specific distribution for the type of health facility, and the level of contamination settles on medium-low values.