Legionella E-news -- 29 August 2005

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Legionella E-news, 29 August 2005
HC Information Resources Inc.
Matthew R. Freije, Editor

**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Nine Cases, One Death, in Rapid City, SD
2. New York City Area Hospital Investigated for 21 Cases of LD
3. Nineteen Cases and Three Deaths in Christchurch, New Zealand
4. Fifteen Cases in Spain
5. Five Cases, One death, Among Baltimore Hospital Patients
6. Two Cases at a Hospital in Columbia, MO
7. Two Men Contract LD After Attending Legionnaires Convention
8. Sixth International Conference on Legionella, 16-20 October 2005
9. New Legionella Management Plans for Hospitals, Hotels, and Nursing Homes

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1. NINE CASES, ONE DEATH, IN RAPID CITY, SD
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Health officials in Rapid City are trying to find the source of contamination responsible for nine cases of Legionnaires' disease that have occurred since late May. The most recent case was reported on 24 August. Five males and four females ranging in age from 51 to 85 have been infected. A 55-year-old woman has died. The nine cases are scattered throughout the city. Despite extensive interviews and about 90 environmental samples, no link has been found. Source: news media

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2. NEW YORK CITY AREA HOSPITAL INVESTIGATED FOR 21 CASES OF LD
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A hospital in New Rochelle, NY was investigated in connection with 21 cases of Legionnaires' disease that have occurred since June. Health officials have said that a hospital cooling tower is responsible for at least two of the 21 cases. Those who were initially infected had walked by the tower to enter the hospital. The hospital replaced the tower in July. Legionella bacteria have also been found in the hospital’s potable water, which was to be investigated further. Source: The Journal News

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3. NINETEEN CASES AND THREE DEATHS IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
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Since June, 19 people in Christchurch have contracted Legionnaires' disease, three of whom have died. According to health officials, Christchurch would normally have only five or six cases of Legionnaires' disease in a year. There was no common building or event to link the people infected, but most lived in Christchurch's western suburbs. Health officials are focusing their investigation on cooling towers in the area. Source: The New Zealand Herald

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4. FIFTEEN CASES IN SPAIN
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Fifteen people have contracted Legionnaire's disease in the northern Spanish city of Zaragoza since August 16. Twelve have been hospitalized, four of whom are in intensive care. The source of contamination has not been identified. Source: TodayOnline.com

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5. FIVE CASES, ONE DEATH, AMONG BALTIMORE HOSPITAL PATIENTS
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Five patients of a Baltimore hospital were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease during a three week period beginning 17 July. The hospital reported that two of the cases may have occurred there and the other three were acquired elsewhere. As of 18 August, one of the patients had been discharged and three remained hospitalized. The fifth patient, an elderly woman, died 25 July. Source: Catonsville Times

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6. TWO CASES AT A HOSPITAL IN COLUMBIA, MO
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On 3 August a hospital in Columbia, MO reported that two of its patients had contracted Legionnaires' disease during their stay there. The hospital suspects that the patients may have become infected with Legionella while showering. One of the patients has been released; the condition of the other was not reported. Source: Columbia Daily Tribune

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7. TWO MEN CONTRACT LD AFTER ATTENDING LEGIONNAIRES CONVENTION
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Legionnaires disease was confirmed by urinary antigen in two men, 60 and 70 years old, who attended the Pennsylvania American Legion's annual convention in July in King of Prussia, a Philadelphia suburb not far from the site of the 1976 convention outbreak. Both have recovered. Other than being from Pittsburgh, the only direct link between the two men was that they both attended the convention, but investigators have not made any conclusions. Source: Associated Press

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8. SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LEGIONELLA, 16-20 OCTOBER 2005
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The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. The details are posted at http://www.legionellaconf.org.

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9. NEW LEGIONELLA MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR HOSPITALS, HOTELS, AND NURSING HOMES
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HC Information Resources Inc. has released three new publications:

Legionella Management Plan for Hospitals, http://hcinfo.com/318info.htm

Legionella Management Plan for Nursing Homes and Senior Living Facilities, http://hcinfo.com/319info.htm

Legionella Management Plan for Hotels, http://hcinfo.com/320info.htm

Each of the publications can be downloaded for US$119. The print versions are available for $149. Click the above links for more information. For a limited time the book Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk will be provided free with each management plan.

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THANK YOU!

Matt Freije
mf@hcinfo.com
--
HC Information Resources Inc.
http://hcinfo.com