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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 20140278 |
| Journal | South African Journal of Science |
| Volume | 111 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Acanthamoeba
- Balamuthia
- Free-living amoebae
- Hartmanella
- Nosocomial infections
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences
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