Nosocomial transmission of legionella pneumophila to a child from a hospital´s cold-water supply

Johansson, HugoLund University,Lunds universitet,Avdelningen för medicinsk mikrobiologi,Institutionen för laboratoriemedicin,Medicinska fakulteten,Division of Medical Microbiology,Department of Laboratory Medicine,Faculty of Medicine (author)

Human Legionella infections mainly consist of community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia and rarely affect children. We describe a nosocomial infection with Legionella pneumophila, serogroup 1, subgroup OLDA, in an immunocompromized 2-y-old girl at a paediatric clinic. L. pneumophila identical to that of the patient was found in the hospital's cold-water but not in the hot-water distribution system. Transmission of Legionella to the girl most probably occurred by Legionella-contaminated cold water mixed and heated by water from the hot-water system. Mixing of hot and cold water probably occurred through thermostatic water mixing valves connected to showers regulated by a handle at the shower head. Nosocomial Legionella infection might thus have occurred, although circulating hot water temperatures never dropped below 53°C and cultures for surveillance of Legionella from central parts of the hot-water system have been consistently negative. Legionellae were successfully eliminated from the hospital's cold-water distribution system by hot water flushing at 73°C for 1h.

Andersson, Kai (author)
Wiebe, ThomasLund University,Lunds universitet,Pediatrik, Lund,Sektion V,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Lund,Medicinska fakulteten,Paediatrics (Lund),Section V,Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund,Faculty of Medicine(Swepub:lu)pedi-twi (author)
Schalén, ClaësLund University,Lunds universitet,Avdelningen för medicinsk mikrobiologi,Institutionen för laboratoriemedicin,Medicinska fakulteten,Division of Medical Microbiology,Department of Laboratory Medicine,Faculty of Medicine(Swepub:lu)mmb-csc (author)
Bernander, SverkerUppsala universitet,Institutionen för medicinska vetenskaper,Klinisk bakteriologi (author)
Avdelningen för medicinsk mikrobiologiInstitutionen för laboratoriemedicin (creator_code:org_t)

In:Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases: Informa UK Limited38:11-12, s. 1023-10270036-55481651-1980

By the author/editor: Johansson, Hugo; Andersson, Kai; Wiebe, Thomas; Schalén, Claës; Bernander, Sverk ...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Microbiology in ...

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Infectious Medic ...

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