Legionella
E-news -- 14
September 2000
Legionella
E-news, 14
September
2000
HC
Information
Resources
Inc.
Matthew R.
Freije,
Editor
**IN
THIS ISSUE**
1.
Legionnaires'
Disease
Associated
with Potting
Soil in the
USA
2.
Comparison
of
laboratory
diagnostic
methods,
antibiotics
3.
Comparison
of
disinfection
methods for
potable
water
4.
Advertisements
for
Legionella-related
products and
services
1.
LEGIONNAIRES'
DISEASE
ASSOCIATED
WITH POTTING
SOIL IN THE
USA
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Cases
of
Legionnaires'
disease
associated
with
exposure to
Legionella longbeachae
while
gardening or
using
potting soil
have been
reported in Australia
and Japan.
According to
a new report
published in
MMWR Weekly (01
September
2000 /
49(34);777-8),
Legionella
transmission
from potting
soil
has occurred
for the
first time
in the
United
States. On
June 13,
2000, CDC
was alerted
by a county
health
official in Washington
of
Legionella
longbeachae
infection in
a
46-year-old
woman who
had been
hospitalized
with
pneumonia.
The patient
reported
that she had
been potting
plants
during the
10 days
before her
symptoms
began in May.
An isolate
from the
patient's
sputum,
along with
two potting
soil samples
and one
compost
sample from
the patient's
residence,
were sent to
CDC for
analysis.
Legionella
longbeachae
was isolated
from one potting
soil sample.
The compost
contained
other
Legionella species but
not
longbeachae.
In
May,
Legionella
longbeachae
was found in
a
77-year-old
Oregon woman
and
a
45-year-old
California
man who were
both
diagnosed
with
legionellosis.
The
California
patient died
and his
house was
cleaned before
an
investigation
could be
conducted.
State and
local health
officials
determined
that the
Oregon
patient had
been potting
plants using
commercial
potting soil
mixtures and
had been
working in a
home garden
during the
10 days
before her
symptoms
began in
April. Two potting
soil samples
taken from
her
residence
were tested
for
Legionella at
CDC; one was
positive for
Legionella
longbeachae.
The
full report
is posted at
http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4934a1.htm
2.
COMPARISON
OF
LABORATORY
DIAGNOSTIC
METHODS,
ANTIBIOTICS
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list
The
infectious
diseases
section at
Johns
Hopkins has
posted a
comparison of
eight
antibiotics
and a
comparison
of nine
methods of
laboratory diagnosis.
The charts
are posted
at http://www.hopkins-heic.org/infectious_diseases/legionella.htm
3.
COMPARISON
OF
DISINFECTION
METHODS FOR
POTABLE
WATER
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list
Johns
Hopkins
recently
posted a
comparison
of 10
Legionella
disinfection
methods:
Super heat
and flush,
auto-chlorinating
with
inhibitor,
auto-chloramine
(monochloramine),
chlorine
dioxide,
copper-silver
ionization,
ozonation,
ultraviolet,
ultraviolet
combined
with auto-chlorinating
/inhibitor,
ultraviolet
combined
with auto-chloramine,
and
ultraviolet
combined
with
chlorine
dioxide. The
chart is
posted at http://www.hopkins-heic.org/infectious_diseases/water_table.htm
4.
ADVERTISEMENTS
FOR
LEGIONELLA-RELATED
PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES
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For
an
auto-reply
message
containing
information
on
advertising
in Legionella
E-news or on
our web
site, send a
message to adinfo@hcinfo.com
.
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Copyright
2000, HC
Information
Resources
Inc.
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Resources
Inc.
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THANK
YOU!
Matt
Freije
HC
Information
Resources
Inc.
http://hcinfo.com
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