Abstract
Legionella pneumophila is defined as a bacterium that can cause severe pneumonia. It is found in the natural environment and in water, and is often found in water tanks. It can be an integral part of biofilms in nature, and the protozoa in which it can live provide it with food and protect it from harmful influences; therefore, it has the ability to move into a sustainable but uncultured state (VBNC). L. pneumophila has been shown to cause infections in dental practices. The most common transmission route is aerosol generated in dental office water systems, which can negatively affect patients and healthcare professionals. The most common way of becoming infected with L. pneumophila in a dental office is through water from dental instruments, and the dental unit. In addition to these bacteria, patients and the dental team may be exposed to other harmful bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is vital that the dental team regularly maintains and decontaminates the dental unit, and sterilizes all accessories that come with it. In addition, regular water control in dental offices is necessary.
Highlights
Members of the Legionellaceae family are small, Gram-negative, aerobic bacilli that do not form spores, are capsule-free, and possess the enzymes catalase and oxidase (Table 1) [1].Amino acids are their primary carbon and energy sources for bacterial growth in the intracellular environment [2]
Case number of infections increasing theThe firstregistered discoveries related to Legionella spp. is was an isolatedespite in 1947numerous that was described as a “rickettsia-like” organism, and in 1977, it was identified as the same bacterial species and serogroup responsible for the disease in Philadelphia [39,42]
Along with many other potential causes of infections for both staff and patients, there is a possibility of exposure to the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, which can cause severe pneumonia—Legionnaires’ disease
Summary
Members of the Legionellaceae family are small, Gram-negative, aerobic bacilli that do not form spores, are capsule-free, and possess the enzymes catalase and oxidase (Table 1) [1]. Amino acids are their primary carbon and energy sources for bacterial growth in the intracellular environment [2]. Of the known 15 serogroups of Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila), serogroup 1 is present in 84% of cases worldwide (Table 2) [4,5,6]. Patients with L. pneumophila of serogroups 2 to 15 showed typical symptoms of Legionella pneumonia, Legionella urinary antigen detection tests were negative [8,9,10].
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