Legionella E-news -- 8 August 2007

Legionella E-news, 8 August 2007
HC Information Resources Inc.
Matthew R. Freije, Editor

**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Major Outbreak in Russia
2. Deaths of Six Babies Attributed to Pseudomonas in Hospital Sinks
3. Outbreak of LD among Cruise Ship Passengers
4. Hospital Showers Blamed for Four Cases, One Death
5. Fifteen Cases Near Ice Rink in Spain
6. Five Cases among UK Hotel Guests
7. No Source Found for Four Cases in the UK

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1. MAJOR OUTBREAK IN RUSSIA
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Since mid July, 175 people have been hospitalized due to a pneumonia outbreak in the Urals region of Russia. A total of 150 have been diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, 66 of which were confirmed by laboratory tests. At least four have died. The startup of the hot water supply following a lengthy shutdown for maintenance is believed to have caused the outbreak. Most apartment buildings in Russia receive hot water from thermal plants rather than from water heaters within the buildings. The hot water supplies are typically shut down for a few weeks each summer for maintenance.

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2. DEATHS OF SIX BABIES ATTRIBUTED TO PSEUDOMONAS IN HOSPITAL SINKS
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The deaths of six premature babies at a hospital in Canada three years ago has been attributed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa found in the building's old water pipes. About fifty babies were infected with the bacteria. Premature babies are particularly vulnerable to Pseudomonas infection because of their undeveloped respiratory systems. The hospital disinfected the ward after the first baby died in 2004, but five more premature babies died over the next 18 months. The ward was closed at the end of 2005. Investigators concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was in sinks that did not drain properly. The hospital reported that it has replaced the plumbing system and will open a new neo-natal ward in 2008. Source: News-Medical.Net

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3. OUTBREAK OF LD AMONG CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS
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Seven passengers became sick with flu-like symptoms while on a Baltic cruise in late July. Pneumonia was confirmed in four passengers, two whose sputum was PCR-positive for Legionella. Legionella was found in water samples collected from the ship by health officials.

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4. HOSPITAL SHOWERS BLAMED FOR FOUR CASES, ONE DEATH
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On May 22, a patient in a Dutch hospital died after contracting Legionnaires' disease. Three other patients contracted the disease and recovered. The hospital showers were reported as the source of Legionella contamination. Source: DutchNews.nl

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5. FIFTEEN CASES NEAR ICE RINK IN SPAIN
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A cooling tower at an ice rink in Malaga, Spain has been blamed for fifteen cases of Legionnaires' disease that occurred in June, one of which resulted in death. All the people who became ill either live near the ice rink or had passed close by it prior to getting sick. A “very high concentration” of Legionella pneumophila was found in the cooling tower. Source: SUR Newspaper

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6. FIVE CASES AMONG UK HOTEL GUESTS
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Five people who stayed at a hotel in Strathpeffer in June contracted legionnaires’ disease. The cases were confirmed by blood tests. Health officials required an action plan including a risk assessment and a water monitoring program. Source: BBC News

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7. NO SOURCE FOUND FOR FOUR CASES IN THE UK
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Four people in Surrey became sick with Legionnaires’ disease in mid-July. Health officials did not find a link among the cases and all the water samples collected tested negative for Legionella. Source: BBC News

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