Abstract

MUCHESA, Petros; BARNARD, Tobias G.  and  BARTIE, Catheleen. The prevalence of free-living amoebae in a South African hospital water distribution system. S. Afr. j. sci. [online]. 2015, vol.111, n.1-2, pp.01-03. ISSN 1996-7489.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2015/20140278.

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.

Keywords : free-living amoebae; nosocomial infections; Acanthamoeba; Hartmanella; Balamuthia.

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