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- Title
A community outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease associated with a cooling tower in Vic and Gurb, Catalonia (Spain) in 2005.
- Authors
Sala Ferré, M. R.; Arias, C.; Oliva, J. M.; Pedrol, A.; García, M.; Pellicer, T.; Roura, P.; Domínguez, A.
- Abstract
We report the investigation of a community-acquired outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. An epidemiological, environmental, and meteorological investigation was undertaken. Fifty-five cases were reported in October and November 2005. The exposure occurred in a large area, with 12 cases (21.8%) located between 1,800 and 3,400 metres from the source. Water sample cultures showed that Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp-1) was present in five cooling towers in two industrial locations in Gurb (plants A and B). Two Lp-1 strains were recovered from plants A and B, but only Lp-1 strains from plant A showed a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile identical to those obtained from three of the cases. Inspection of the cooling towers in plant A revealed inadequate maintenance. Weather conditions in October 2005, with mostly high temperatures and high humidity, together with the flat terrain could have been favouring factors. This study showed a community outbreak from a cooling tower as a common source in a large area. Climate and terrain could explain the dissemination of contaminated aerosols.
- Subjects
CATALONIA (Spain); SPAIN; LEGIONNAIRES' disease; DISEASE outbreaks; EPIDEMIOLOGICAL research; COOLING towers; LEGIONELLA pneumophila genetics; AEROSOLS; DISEASE risk factors
- Publication
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 2009, Vol 28, Issue 2, p153
- ISSN
0934-9723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10096-008-0603-6