Legionella
E-news -- 31 July 2002
**IN
THIS ISSUE**
1. Nine Cases, Two Deaths at LA Hospital
2. Seven Pneumonia Cases, 1 LD Death, at Youth Hostel in Greece
3. Hot Water System Blamed for 4 Cases at Mass. Nursing Home
4. Legionnaires' Kills Two at Japan Hot Spring
5. Locations for Legionella Seminar
6. Ulm Conference Papers Now Available at HCINFO.COM
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1. NINE CASES, TWO DEATHS AT LA HOSPITAL
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In March, two cases of Legionnaires' disease apparently contracted at a
408-bed hospital in Los Angeles were reported to county health
officials. Water samples that were subsequently collected tested
negative. Two months later two more cases were reported, one of which
resulted in the death of a 67-year-old man. Samples were again
collected, this time showing Legionella bacteria. The hospital attempted
to decontaminate the plumbing system by heat shock. Then, on 25 May, a
55-year-old man who entered the hospital with heart problems contracted
Legionnaires'. He died 15 June. The hospital's chief of staff contended
that the patients had underlying illnesses, so Legionnaires' disease may
not have been the primary cause of death. All nine of the patients were
over 50 and had heart problems. Eight of the nine spent time on the same
floor of the hospital before becoming ill. Sources: LA Times; Reuters;
Associated Press
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2. SEVEN PNEUMONIA CASES, 1 LD DEATH, AT YOUTH HOSTEL IN GREECE
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Late June, health officials in Greece linked the death of a 22-year-old
man to Legionnaires' disease. The authorities were alerted to the
outbreak after seven children from a youth hostel contracted pneumonia
and experienced other Legionnaires' symptoms. Health officials found
Legionella in the water supply. Two of the water tanks were found to be
rusty and unclean and were promptly replaced.
The children were treated and sent home. The last published
report indicated that officials were awaiting blood sample test results
to determine if there is a definite connection between the illnesses and
the hostel. Source: Hellenic Resources Network, 6 July 2002
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3. HOT WATER SYSTEM BLAMED FOR 4 CASES AT MASS. NURSING HOME
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Four cases of Legionnaires' disease that occurred at a Massachusetts
nursing home in June are being blamed on the building's hot water
system. One of the cases occurred in an employee; the other three were
in residents. Six environmental samples were collected after the cases
were identified. Four of six tested positive for Legionella, three from
showers and one from a whirlpool bath. The incoming water supply tested
negative. The nursing home attempted to decontaminate the system via hot
water flush.
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4. LEGIONNAIRES' KILLS TWO AT JAPAN HOT SPRING
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A woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s who visited a spa in Japan have
died after contracting Legionnaires' disease. The woman went to the hot
spring on 7 July, was admitted to a hospital with respiratory problems
on 14 July, and died 22 July. The man bathed at the hot spring on 4
July, was admitted to a hospital on 9 July, and died 15 July. In all, 98
people in the area showed Legionnaires' symptoms, 59 of whom were
hospitalized. Legionella was found in 5 of the 98. Source: The Daily
Yomiuri
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5. LOCATIONS FOR LEGIONELLA SEMINAR
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We anticipate that the next course will be in December 2002 or January
2003; we hope to finalize dates and locations within the next two weeks.
If you have a meeting facility, and would like to host a course, please
let us know. We can provide the two-day comprehensive course for a mixed
group (health officials, hospital personnel, plumbing engineers, water
treatment professionals, industrial hygienists, etc.), or tailor a
lower-cost one-day course for a specific audience. You can also get
private training for your organization. For more information, visit
http://hcinfo.com/legionellaseminar.htm.
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6. ULM CONFERENCE PAPERS NOW AVAILABLE AT HCINFO.COM
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Because of a special licensing arrangement between HCINFO and ASM Press
(American Society for Microbiology), each chapter of ASM's book
_Legionella_, edited by Richard Marre et al, is now available online at
hcinfo.com. The 85 chapters, each of which is a paper presented at the
International Conference on Legionella held September 2000 in Ulm,
Germany, are available for US$6 each. The files can be read online,
saved on your computer, and printed.
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(c)
Copyright 2002, HC Information Resources Inc. You have permission to
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THANK
YOU!
Matt
Freije, Editor
HC Information Resources Inc.
Tel: 760-494-3063
Fax: 619-839-3166
hcinfo@hcinfo.com
http://hcinfo.com
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