Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detection by real time polymerase chain reaction using pooling strategy of nasal samples.

COVID-19 is a life-threatening multisistemic infection caused by (SARS-CoV-2). Infection control relies on timely identification and isolation of infected people who can alberg the virus for up to 14 days, providing important opportunities for undetected transmission. This note describes the application of rRT-PCR test for simpler, faster and less invasive monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infection using pooling strategy of samples.

Prevalence of anti-legionella antibodies among Italian hospital workers.

This study evaluated the prevalence of anti-legionella antibodies in workers at hospitals with a long-term history of legionella contamination. The hospitals are located in Milan and Turin, northern Italy, and in Naples and Bari, southern Italy. Antibody prevalence and titres of healthcare workers, medical and dental students and blood donors were assessed.

[Assessment of occupational risk of Legionella spp. infection among dental health-care personnel].

Various authors have reported the presence of Legionella spp. in dental unit waterlines with prevalence rates reaching, in some cases, 69.7% In order to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to Legionella and risk of infection, anti-Legionella spp.

[A survey of preventive measures against infection risk in dental surgery].

In dental healthcare surgeries, both workers and patients are regularly exposed to various infectious agents. It is essential therefore that dental healthcare workers have a good knowledge of disinfection systems and that dentists' surgeries be effectively managed so as to reduce or even eliminate the risk of cross infections. In order to evaluate infectious risk prevention methods and describe the procedures used by dental healthcare workers on a daily basis, a sample of dentists who work in public surgeries were asked to anonymously fill up a questionnaire.

[Pilot study on the presence of Legionella spp in 6 Italian cities' dental units].

Among the microorganism involved in environmental contamination, Legionella spp is actually considered an important infectious hazard. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of Legionella spp in water samples collected from 138 dental unit selected from public outpatient clinics of 6 Italian cities. The samples were taken from oral rinsing cup, air-water syringe, ultrasonic scaler and the turbine to investigate Legionella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the total heterotrophic count at 36 degrees and 22 degrees.

Clinical-environmental surveillance of legionellosis: an experience in Southern Italy.

In Italy, although the number of cases of legionellosis notified to the health authorities has significantly increased in recent years, the incidence is still believed to be underestimated. To verify the true frequency and identify the sources of infection, an active clinical-environmental surveillance program was instituted in three hospital facilities in Southern Italy. Between January 2001 and March 2005, a total of 1000 patients admitted to the three hospitals with a diagnosis of pneumonia were enrolled.

Legionella contamination in hot water of Italian hotels.

A cross-sectional multicenter survey of Italian hotels was conducted to investigate Legionella spp. contamination of hot water. Chemical parameters (hardness, free chlorine concentration, and trace element concentrations), water systems, and building characteristics were evaluated to study risk factors for colonization.

[Legionellosis in Apulia (Italy): an underevaluated disease].

The frequent occurrence of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks in many countries, including Italy, highlights the importance of epidemiological investigations on this disease. For this purpose, an active surveillance programme of pneumonia patients was carried out in a large hospital in Apulia (Italy) from March 2001 to December 2003. A total of 612 patients were tested for Legionella pneumophila infection by urinary antigen detection and evaluation of antibodies titre.

[Importance of oral signs in the diagnosis of atypical forms of celiac disease].

The dramatic improvement in knowledge concerning celiac disease (CD) has disclosed the pattern of the associated clinical manifestations and the often atypical or silent presentation of this disease, which makes clinical diagnosis difficult. Also oral manifestations, mostly recurrent apthous stomatitis (RAS) and dental enamel hypoplasia, are atypical signs of CD. Our opinion about the possibility of performing mass-screening to reveal atypical or silent CD is in agreement whit who is asserting that a sistematical case-finding is, at present, the most suitable epidemiological approach.

Legionella infection risk from domestic hot water.

We investigated Legionella and Pseudomonas contamination of hot water in a cross-sectional multicentric survey in Italy. Chemical parameters (hardness, free chlorine, and trace elements) were determined. Legionella spp.

[The discharge form: advantages and limits legionellosis cases individuation].

Despite legionellosis surveillance is active in Italy since many years, the disease notification appears still undervalued. A multicentric survey was carried out among 5 big Italian hospitals. It examined 11,435 discharge forms (1999-2001), reporting pneumonia diagnosis.

[Multicentric survey on hygienic aspects in private dental practice].

The aim of this research was to evaluate the knowledge of cross-infection hazards in private dental practices, and their control procedures. The survey, carried out by questionnaire in 11 Italian cities, showed that dental personnel do not completely follow the main procedures for infection control. The interviewed subjects usually wear gloves (95.

[Environmental diffusion of Legionella spp and legionellosis frequency among patients with pneumonia: preliminary results of a multicentric Italian survey].

A multicentric Italian investigation on legionnaires' disease is in course to clarify host factors as well as pathogen associated characteristics involved in the infection/disease. The main goal of the research plan is to account for some critical aspects concerning identification and prevention of legionellosis. To improve knowledge on factors associated with Legionella spp colonisation in hot waters, to detect cases and to characterize risk factors in subjects which develop pneumonia are specific objectives of the research programme.

Cavernicolous habitats harbouring Cryptococcus neoformans: results of a speleological survey in Apulia, Italy, 1999-2000.

Twenty-five caves of speleological and palaeontological interest were investigated for the presence of Cryptococcus spp. within the Apulia region of Italy. Five hundred and forty-five specimens of soil, mud, animal faeces, water and decayed animal and plant remains were examined.

Multicenter comparative evaluation of six commercial systems and the national committee for clinical laboratory standards m27-a broth microdilution method for fluconazole susceptibility testing of Candida species.

Fluconazole susceptibility among 800 clinical Candida isolates (60% C. albicans) and two control strains (C. krusei ATCC 6258 and C.