[Antimicrobial ceramic for killing Legionella pneumophila in hot spring waters].

ABSTRACT

Killing of Legionella pneumophila by an antimicrobial ceramic was evaluated during culture in nine kinds of hot spring water at 40 degrees C. After 24 hours, the efficacy against L. pneumophila varied, depended on water quality. The strongest antibacterial effect was seen in chloride hot spring water from Wakayama and in deionized water. In four hot spring water samples (sulfur and hydrogen carbonate springs from Fukushima, simple thermals from Mie, and radioactive spring from Tottori), the decrease was < -2 log cfu after 48 hours. These results suggest that the antimicrobial ceramic is able to eradicate Legionella from hot spring waters.