Legionella longbeachae has been frequently identified in composted plant material and can cause Legionnaires’ disease (LD). We wanted to determine how frequently L. longbeachae DNA was present on gardeners’ gloves, and how long L. longbeachae could persist on inoculated gloves and masks. Volunteers completed a survey of gardening practices and their gardening gloves were tested for L. longbeachae DNA by qPCR. The persistence of viable L. longbeachae was assessed by timed subcultures after inoculation of gardening gloves and masks. Gloves but not masks were used regularly. L. longbeachae was detected on 11 (14%; 95% CI 8–24%) gloves. Viable organisms were recovered from 25–50% of inoculated cotton, leather and PU coated gloves but not rubber gloves after 8 h incubation. There was a difference in dose-response curve slopes by glove material (P = 0·001) and time to 50% sterility (P = 0·036). There were differences in persistence of L. longbeachae between mask types from analysis of the slopes and 50% sterility on the decay curves (P = 0·042, P < 0·001 respectively). Gardening gloves and masks may act as a vector for transmission of L. longbeachae during gardening. Washing gardening gloves and prompt disposal of masks could reduce risk of LD.

中文翻译：

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园艺时使用手套和口罩预防长滩军团菌感染的安全性如何？

Legionella longbeachae经常在堆肥的植物材料中被发现，并可能导致军团病 (LD)。我们想确定L. longbeachae DNA 出现在园丁手套上的频率，以及L. longbeachae在接种的手套和口罩上可以持续多长时间。志愿者完成了一项园艺实践调查，并通过 qPCR测试了他们的园艺手套中的L. longbeachae DNA。在接种园艺手套和口罩后，通过定时亚培养来评估活的长滩科动物的持久性。经常使用手套而不是口罩。长滩亚种在 11 (14%; 95% CI 8–24%) 手套上检测到。在孵育 8 小时后，从 25-50% 的接种棉、皮革和 PU 涂层手套中回收了活菌，但橡胶手套中没有。手套材料 ( P  = 0·001) 和达到 50% 无菌的时间 ( P  = 0·036) 的剂量反应曲线斜率存在差异。从斜率分析和衰变曲线上的 50% 不育性分析，长滩伊蚊在口罩类型之间的持久性存在差异（分别为P  = 0·042，P  < 0·001）。园艺手套和口罩可能是园艺期间长滩科L.的传播媒介。清洗园艺手套和及时处理口罩可以降低 LD 的风险。