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A rural outbreak of Legionnaire's disease linked to visiting a retail store

Author

Listed:
  • Redd, S.C.
  • Lin, F.Y.C.
  • Fields, B.S.
  • Biscoe, J.
  • Plikaytis, B.B.
  • Powers, P.
  • Patel, J.
  • Lim, B.L.
  • Joseph, J.M.
  • Devadason, C.
  • Israel, E.
  • Cohen, M.L.

Abstract

Between May 7 and June 7, 1986, 27 residents of a rural county in Maryland developed legionellosis, and two died. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was cultured from the sputum of two patients and identified in lung tissue of a third patient by direct fluorescent antibody staining. An additional 11 patients had four-fold rises in antibody titer to L. pneumophila, and 13 had single titers ≥1:256. To determine risk factors for disease, we performed a case-control study. Twelve of 16 case-patients reported visiting store A in the two weeks before onset of illness compared with four of 28 control-patients. A serologic survey of employees showed that employees of store A were 3.63 times more likely than control employees to have titers of antibody to L. pneumophila ≥1:256 (95% confidence intervals 0.8, 16.7). Cultures of soil specimens, samples of water from the hot water system of store A and from stagnant ponds near store A collected five weeks after the end of the outbreak were negative for Legionella species. Store A was adjacent to a site of excavation and construction during May 1986, when the community was experiencing an extended drought. This investigation suggests that exposure to excavation and construction activity may be a risk factor for legionellosis.

Suggested Citation

  • Redd, S.C. & Lin, F.Y.C. & Fields, B.S. & Biscoe, J. & Plikaytis, B.B. & Powers, P. & Patel, J. & Lim, B.L. & Joseph, J.M. & Devadason, C. & Israel, E. & Cohen, M.L., 1990. "A rural outbreak of Legionnaire's disease linked to visiting a retail store," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 80(4), pages 431-434.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1990:80:4:431-434_4
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    Cited by:

    1. Molly M. Scanlon & James L. Gordon & William F. McCoy & Melissa F. Cain, 2020. "Water Management for Construction: Evidence for Risk Characterization in Community and Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-20, March.

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