Legionella
E-news -- 25 April 2002
**IN
THIS ISSUE**
1. Four Cases in Melbourne
2. Malfunctioning Auto Air Conditioner Suspected in LD Case
3. Legionella Prevention Training Course
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1. FOUR CASES IN MELBOURNE
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Four men who visited central Melbourne sometime between late March and
mid April have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease. The ages of the
men are 29, 51, 58, and 85. At least two of the men have been discharged
from the hospital, but the last news report indicated that the other two
are still undergoing treatment. Cooling towers at 31 sites in the
suspect area have been inspected, tested, and disinfected. Health
authorities are awaiting water test results. Sources: Australian
Broadcasting Corporation and news.com.au
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2. MALFUNCTIONING AUTO AIR CONDITIONER SUSPECTED IN LD CASE
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A report published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
(2002;23:145-147) suggests that a leaking auto air conditioner may have
been the source of a case of Legionnaires' disease. Upon admittance to
the VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in June 1996, the
patient, a 54-year-old man, was diagnosed with community-acquired
pneumonia. One week prior, while driving from Louisville, Ky. to
Nashville, Tenn., the patient noticed condensed water from the air
conditioner pooling on the floorboard of the car. Legionnaires' disease
was confirmed by positive PCR tests of throat specimens and by a
positive urinary antigen test. Water samples collected from the car's
air conditioning unit tested positive for Legionella by PCR and had an
extremely high level (7,500/mL) of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1
to 6 by DFA analysis. A link could not be confirmed, however, because
all cultures were negative, and other potential sources of contamination
were not available for investigation. It is also uncertain whether the
airflow across the dripping condensate water would have been strong
enough to cause aerosolization. The researchers concluded that, although
a definite link to the auto air conditioner could not be established,
there was sufficient evidence to suggest that these devices should be
considered as a possible source of Legionella contamination. [Editor's
note: The report did not mention whether the investigators operated the
auto air conditioner for an hour or so prior to collecting a sample from
it. If the samples were collected from the auto air conditioner after it
had been sitting idle for several days, it would seem that odds of
finding legionellae, and at higher concentrations, would be much
greater.--mrf]
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3. LEGIONELLA PREVENTION TRAINING COURSE
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Chicago
-- May 1-2, 2002 (Wed.-Thurs.), at the Doubletree Hotel O'Hare
Airport-Rosemont.
New
York City – June 5-6, 2002 (Wed.-Thurs.), at the Wyndham Garden Hotel
LaGuardia Airport.
Current
and complete information on the seminars is posted at http://hcinfo.com/legionellaseminar.htm.
For other questions, telephone 1-800-801-8050 (1-760-494-3063 outside
the USA and Canada), or e-mail hcinfo@hcinfo.com.
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Copyright 2002, HC Information Resources Inc. You have permission to
send this newsletter to others, post it on your web site, or include it
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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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