Presence and Chromosomal Subtyping of Legionella Species in Potable Water Systems in 20 Hospitals of Catalonia, Spain

Abstract

Legionella was present in the water of most of the hospitals studied; each such hospital had a unique, dominant chromosomal DNA subtype. The verification of several genomic DNA restriction profiles in such a small geographic area demonstrates the great genetic diversity of Legionella in the aquatic environment.