Legionella
E-news -- 30 March 2004
Legionella E-news, 30
March 2004
HC Information Resources Inc.
Matthew R. Freije, Editor
**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Pontiac Fever Outbreak at Basketball Tournament
2. Study Indicates Conditions Favorable to Legionella and Pseudomonas
3. Reports of Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease in Europe
4. New NSF Course on Waterborne Pathogens
5. New ASPE Seminar on Legionella Control in Plumbing Systems
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1. PONTIAC FEVER OUTBREAK AT BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
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Oklahoma State health officials have confirmed that Legionella is the
cause of a cluster of respiratory illnesses, likely Pontiac fever,
contracted by several persons visiting Oklahoma City last week for a
basketball tournament. Of the 240 teams participating in the tournament,
only two, one from Houston and one from Indiana, have reported
respiratory illnesses among players or family members. At least 13 have
tested positive for Legionella. Health officials are collecting
environmental samples at the hotel where the Houston and Indiana teams
were guests. Source: news media
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2. STUDY INDICATES CONDITIONS FAVORABLE TO LEGIONELLA AND PSEUDOMONAS
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In "Legionella Infection Risk From Domestic Hot Water" (Emerging
Infectious Diseases, Vol. 10, No. 3, March 2004), the authors report
factors associated with Legionella and pseudomonas contamination in
residential hot water plumbing.
Legionella spp. were detected in 33 (22.6%) and Pseudomonas spp. in 56
(38.4%) of 146 samples collected from private homes of six towns (Milan,
Modena, Bologna, Rome, Naples, Bari) in Northern, Central, and Southern
Italy from May through June 2002. Some factors associated with
Legionella contamination were heater type, tank capacity, distance
between the tank and the sample point, age of system, and mineral
content. Zinc and copper appeared to protect against Legionella
colonization. Legionella species and serogroups were distributed
differently according to heater type, water temperature, and free
chlorine. Pseudomonas was influenced by the water source, hardness, free
chlorine, and temperature. The full report is posted at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no3/02-0707.htm.
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3. REPORTS OF TRAVEL ASSOCIATED LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
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Eurosurveillance Monthly has published reports issued by the European
Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease (EWGLINET)
on travel associated LD in Spain from January 2001 to July 2003 (http://www.eurosurveillance.org/em/v09n02/0902-225.asp),
in France from September 2001 to August 2003 (http://www.eurosurveillance.org/em/v09n02/0902-224.asp),
and in Italy from July 2002 to October 2003 (http://www.eurosurveillance.org/em/v09n02/0902-223.asp).
Carol Joseph's editorial, "European Surveillance of Travel Associated
Legionnaires' Disease," is posted at http://www.eurosurveillance.org/em/v09n02/0902-221.asp.
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4. NEW NSF COURSE ON WATERBORNE PATHOGENS
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NSF International will host the new course "Waterborne Pathogens:
Minimizing Risk Associated with Building Water Systems" in conjunction
with HC Information Resources Inc. The course will be held May 18, 2004
at NSF's headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA).
Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., an environmental science researcher and public
health educator at the University of Arizona, will begin the seminar
with an overview of several waterborne pathogens, discussing
microbiology, associated illnesses, exposure routes, prevention, water
treatment, and control.
Matt Freije will cover government regulations and industry guidelines
for Legionella, outlining risk reduction strategies for hospitals,
hotels, office buildings, and industrial facilities. Recommendations
will be given for implementing preventive measures and disinfection
methods, and for reducing legal risk. Attendees will also see television
news clips covering outbreaks and prevention.
The tuition of US$445 includes a course manual, copy of Legionellae
Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk,
certificate, and 0.6 CEUs.
To register or get more information, telephone NSF at 1-800-673-6275
(734-769-8010 outside the USA), or go to www.nsf.org/cphe or
www.hcinfo.com.
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5. NEW ASPE SEMINAR ON LEGIONELLA CONTROL IN PLUMBING SYSTEMS
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The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) will present the
one-day seminar "Legionella in Plumbing Systems: Protecting Occupants
and Reducing Legal Risk" in four US cities during May and June, 2004: 6
May in Los Angeles, 13 May in Atlanta, 27 May in Dallas, and 17 June in
Randolph (Boston).
Taught by Matt Freije, the workshop will provide background facts that
plumbing professionals need to know about Legionnaires' disease and
Legionella bacteria, and specific Legionella control recommendations for
the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of plumbing
systems. Disinfection methods will also be examined.
The tuition of US$475 includes a course manual, certificate, and 0.6
CEUs.
For more information, go to http://www.hcinfo.com/seminarplumbing_aspe.htm.
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(c) Copyright 2004, HC Information Resources Inc.
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THANK YOU!
Matt Freije
mf@hcinfo.com
--
HC Information Resources Inc.
Tel: 760-494-3063
Fax: 619-839-3166
hcinfo@hcinfo.com
http://hcinfo.com
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