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. 1983 Jun;90(3):451–460. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400029090

Survival of virulent Legionella pneumophila in aerosols.

P Hambleton, M G Broster, P J Dennis, R Henstridge, R Fitzgeorge, J W Conlan
PMCID: PMC2134264  PMID: 6863914

Abstract

Aqueous suspensions of virulent Legionella pneumophila grown on solid medium retained virulence and aerosol survival characteristics for several months. Significant numbers of viable organisms were recovered from aerosols held at various relative humidities (r.h.) for up to 2 h. The organisms survived best at 65% r.h. and were least stable at 55% r.h. Exponential phase broth-grown organisms survived poorly in aerosols in comparison with stationary phase broth cultures or organisms grown on solid medium, suggesting that the metabolic status of Legionella pneumophila organisms may be an important factor affecting their ability to survive in aerosols and cause respiratory disease.

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Selected References

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