Abstract
Legionella pneumophila is an important pathogen and is involved in more than 95% of cases of severe atypical pneumonia. The current study focused on the ablution water in the grand mosque in Makkah as well as water tanks in hotels surrounding the holy mosque. A total of 100 water samples were collected from ablution water in the Haram and the hotels in the central area around the grand mosque and sent to the research laboratory of microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Umm Al Qura. Samples were filtrated and inoculated onto buffer charcoal-yeast extract agar base and incubated at 37°C in a CO2 incubator. The plates were examined after seven days of incubation. Isolated organisms were confirmed by using the “Microgen Legionella” (latex agglutination test). Out of the 100 water samples tested, 11 samples were positive for L. pneumophila. All positive water samples were from hotels water tanks. This indicates that this type of bacteria existing in the water sources. So requires further research to cover all sources of water to avoid an outbreak of this infection among the pilgrims. To avoid the possibility of this, constant maintenance of hotel water tanks regularly and the use of chlorine in specific proportions according to recommended specifications can help reduce the spread of these microbial infections. Key words: Holy Mosque, Legionella pneumophila, water tanks, environmental.
Highlights
IntroductionLegionella pneumophila is the main causal agent of this disease (Heuner and Steinert, 2003; Miyashita et al, 2020)
Legionnaires disease is considered a major form of travel-associated pneumonia
Hundreds of water samples were collected, 10 of them taken from the ablution water in Grand Mosque and 90 water samples were collected from water tanks in hotels surrounding the Holy Mosque in Makkah city for detection of L. pneumophila. 11 (11%) water samples out of 100 water samples showed positive results of Legionella spp
Summary
Legionella pneumophila is the main causal agent of this disease (Heuner and Steinert, 2003; Miyashita et al, 2020). This infection is transmitted between people through the air polluted with water droplets loaded with this microbe which may be present in water tanks and warm water systems. Transition occurs during the shower through inhalation of this water, which may be contaminated with this type of pathogenic bacteria This disease, often in the summer season where the temperature rises which is considered an important environmental factor for the growth and multiplication of this type of bacteria. The people with major risk factors for communityacquired Legionnaires are immunocompromised people, chronic diseases, cigarette smokers, and the elderly; they are the most vulnerable to this bacterial infection
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