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Legionella in Portugal
chapter 19
By: Raquel Rodrigues Lopes da Silva Esaguy
• Appointed as Technical Officer and Manager of Water Quality at Microbiology Laboratory of
INSA, Lisbon
• Department of Environmental Health - Water and Soil Unit - Microbiology Laboratory. National
Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon.
Water and sprays sampling for microbiological analysis, including pathogenic research;
• Conduct environmental microbiological analysis, Laboratory Accredited by IPAC, according to
legislation in force
• Responsible for
Legionella
ssp identification and differentiation under community service,
health surveillance and epidemiological investigation of cases and outbreaks by applying different
techniques from molecular biology to clinical and environmental samples:
• Responsible for maintaining the database and collection of
Legionella
strains from clinical and
environmental sources.
• Uses FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) technique applied to the differentiation
of microorganisms.
• 2010-2012, Developed and participated of the Project “
Legionella
in Water of sport centers in the
municipality of Lisbon” funded by the DGS (publication in preparation).
• 2007-2010 Participated in Project Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa (ABAE). Participating
agencies: Environment Institute, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge.
• 2007-2008, Developed and participated in the Project “
Legionella
in Ornamental Lakes and
fountains”, funded by the DGS.
• 2006 Participated in “First European Quality Control ring trial on
Legionella
Real-Time PCR
analysis. Study based on IQ-Check
Legionella
spp and
Legionella pneumophila
quantification by
Real-Time PCR “, organized by BioRad Company
