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Community outbreak of legionellosis and an environmental investigation into a community water system
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Community outbreak of legionellosis and an environmental investigation into a community water system

P. D. Cohn, J. A. Gleason, E. Rudowski, S. M. Tsai, C. A. Genese and J. A. Fagliano
Epidemiology and infection, v 143(6), pp 1322-1331
01 Apr 2015
PMID: 25083716
url
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0950268814001964View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open
url
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268814001964View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Legionellosis Original Papers
During two legionellosis outbreak investigations, one at a geriatric centre and the other in high-rise housing for seniors, it was observed that additional cases of legionellosis occurred in nearby smaller residential settings. This apparent geographical cluster of legionellosis occurred in the same general area of a community water storage tank. No potential airborne sources in or near the area could be identified, but a community water system storage tank that was centrally located among case residences spurred an investigation of water-quality factors in the identified investigation area. Conditions conducive for Legionella growth, particularly low chlorine residuals, were found. The rate of legionellosis among residents aged ⩾50 years in the investigation areas (61·0 and 64·1/100 000) was eight times higher than in the rest of the service area (9·0/100 000) and almost 20 times higher than the statewide annual average incidence rate (3·2/100 000). A water mains flushing programme in the area was launched by the water utility, and water samples taken before and during flushing found L. pneumophila.

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35 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#6 Clean Water and Sanitation

InCites Highlights

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Web of Science research areas
Infectious Diseases
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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