Legionella
E-news -- 29 September 2004
Legionella E-news, 29
September 2004
HC Information Resources Inc.
Matthew R. Freije, Editor
**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Update on Outbreak in Zaragoza, Spain
2. Twenty Cases of LD in Barcelona
3. LD Confirmed in Three Workers at Cleveland Service Garage
4. Three Cases, One Death, Associated with Campsite in Austria
5. Fourteen Cases, One Death, in Sweden
6. Three Cases, Two Deaths, in Redditch, UK
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1. UPDATE ON OUTBREAK IN ZARAGOZA, SPAIN
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The 24 June issue of Legionella E-news reported an outbreak of
Legionnaires' disease connected to a university hospital in Zaragoza,
Spain. At that time LD had been confirmed in seven persons. An update by
Eurosurveillance Weekly reported at least 27 confirmed and 3 probable
cases of the disease, including 7 deaths. The patients who died were
aged 87, 84, 83, 75, 64, 45, and 24 years. The reason for the high death
rate is uncertain, except that some of the patients were elderly and in
poor health. The outbreak has been blamed on two cooling towers at a
general hospital because tests confirmed that both towers were
contaminated with the same subtype of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1
that was found in four of the patients. The cooling tower was
disinfected and the water treatment program was revised. The outbreak
was declared over by the middle of July.
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2. TWENTY CASES OF LD IN BARCELONA
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Health authorities in the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia
blamed four cooling towers for an outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in
Barcelona that affected 20 men and 7 women in August. Those who
contracted the disease ranged from 45 to 83 years of age. As of 19
August, 15 of the 27 people were still in hospital but their conditions
were generally satisfactory, according to health authorities. Source:
news media
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3. LD CONFIRMED IN THREE WORKERS AT CLEVELAND SERVICE GARAGE
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Three workers at a large city service garage in Cleveland contracted
Legionnaires' disease; one case occurred about 11 months ago and the
other two more recently. The garage houses dump trucks and street
sweepers. Two of eight water samples tested positive for Legionella. The
positive samples were collected from the shower in the employees' lounge
and the truck wash system. The garage was closed pending further
investigation.
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4. THREE CASES, ONE DEATH, ASSOCIATED WITH CAMPSITE IN AUSTRIA
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In July three laboratory confirmed (by urinary antigen) cases of
Legionnaires' disease were reported to Austrian health authorities. All
three cases had stayed at a campsite in Klagenfurt. Patient 1, a
57-year-old Austrian man, became ill on 30 May. He was admitted to
hospital with severe pneumonia and transferred to the intensive care
unit on 6 June. He died on 4 July. Patient 2, a 71-year-old German man,
became ill on 20 June and was admitted to the hospital on 29 June. He
has recovered. The third case, a 53-year-old man from the Netherlands,
stayed at the campsite from 27 to 29 June and became ill 5 July. He also
has recovered.
Health authorities believe that the campsite was the likely source of
infection. High levels of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 were found
in samples collected from the water systems on 22 June, just prior to
thermal disinfection. A second disinfection, utilizing chlorine, was
carried out on 28 June. Legionella bacteria were found in samples
collected after the first disinfection procedure, but all samples
collected after the second procedure tested negative. Evaluation of the
shower facilities revealed that further remedial measures were required.
Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly
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5. FOURTEEN CASES, ONE DEATH, IN SWEDEN
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Between 10 August and 6 September, Legionnaires' disease was confirmed
in 14 people who either live in or had visited the city of Lidköping, in
southern Sweden. One patient, an elderly man, has died. The patients
range from 36 to 83 years of age. Only three of them were
immunocompromised.
Twelve of the infections were diagnosed by urinary antigen, and two by
culture. The epidemiological investigation ruled out several potential
sources of infection, including whirlpools, private humidifiers, and hot
water systems in the patients' homes.
All of the patients spent time within a small area of the city. Samples
from cooling towers in two locations have shown high numbers (>300 cfu/ml)
of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. These cooling towers have now
been shut down for cleaning. A source of contamination has not been
implicated, but typing of all Legionella isolates will be undertaken to
check for a connection between the cooling towers and the patients.
Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly
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6. THREE CASES, TWO DEATHS, REDDITCH, UK
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As of last week health officials had not found the source of
contamination that has caused three cases of Legionnaires' disease in
Redditch. Two women, aged 62 and 67 years, have died. The third case, a
man in his 50s, was hospitalized but is now recovering at home. Of 69
samples collected, five tested positive, but not with the strains found
in the people who became ill. Results of further tests are pending.
Source: news media
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THANK YOU!
Matt Freije
mf@hcinfo.com
--
HC Information Resources Inc.
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