liu.seSearch for publications in DiVA
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • oxford
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Epidemiology and long term control of nosocomial legionnaires' disease
Linköping University, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Infectious Diseases. Linköping University, Faculty of Health Sciences.
2003 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The first nosocomial legionella outbreak in a Scandinavian general district hospital was identified in an epidemiological investigation of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Värnamo in 1991. During 3 months, 28 patients and 3 staff fell ill and 3 died. Legionella pneumophila serogroup (sg) 1, was found in high counts throughout the hospital hot water system and was probably spread by aerosolisation via shower nozzles. The outbreak was arrested when the circulating hot water temperature was raised from <45°C to >55°C.

The nosocomial infections proved to be part of a wider legionella outbreak and 10 cases contracted outside the hospital were also detected. Legionellae were cultured from 7 of 15 community buildings and 31% (109/354) of subjects living in the Värnamo area had an elevated titre (≥6) to L. pneumophila sg 1 in 1991, indicating a temporary spread of legionella in the community. Subclinical infection was demonstrated and it was estimated that only 10% of all infections had been clinically identified. Nosocomial legionnaires' disease should alert physicians to possible legionella transmission in the community.

In 21 patients from the nosocomial outbreak, the median L. pneumophila sg 1 antibody titre fell from 1:256 to 1:16 in 3 years. After 10 years, the titre level in this clinical cohort had reached the same level as observed in the background population 5 years earlier. Current international serological criteria (a fourfold or greater rise in antibody titre to ≥1:128) identified only 40% (21/52) of pneumonia cases caused by L. pneumophila sg 1 in a Swedish population in 1991-2001. When the antibody response was related to the antibody titre in local residents, the sensitivity rose to 87% (45/52).

Keeping the circulating hospital hot water temperature above 55°C, and vigilant clinical surveillance of nosocomial pneumonia as a method for control of nosocomial legionnaires' disease was evaluated after 10 years of practice. Infection with L. pneumophila sg 1 was diagnosed in 4 out of 366 (1.1 %) patients treated for nosocomial pneumonia, representing 1 case per 26,000 admissions. All patients were cured without complications. L. pneumophila sg 1 was isolated in 30 of 251 (12%) cultured hospital water samples during the monitoring period. It was concluded that this approach was safe and effective for long term control of nosocomial legionnaires' disease in a primary referral hospital.

The hospital hot water system was found to be colonised with a single genotype of L. pneumophila sg 1 over a 12-year period. The same genotype, identified using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, was also demonstrated in 18/20 (90%) community isolates. The phenotypic variation was confined to the monoclonal antibody subtypes Benidorm and Bellingham. The hospital genotype was identified in 2 out of 6 Swedish hospitals, both located within 100 km of Värnamo. Obviously, an entire municipal water network may constitute a distinct ecological niche for a single legionella strain. Certain clones also seem to be widely spread in the environment. This implies that results from molecular subtyping must be interpreted cautiously in epidemiological investigations of legionnaires' disease.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköpings universitet , 2003. , p. 88
Series
Linköping University Medical Dissertations, ISSN 0345-0082 ; 814
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-26648Libris ID: 9141573Local ID: 11213ISBN: 91-7373-497-7 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-26648DiVA, id: diva2:247197
Public defence
2003-10-24, Föreläsningssalen, Qulturum, Hus B4, Länssjukhuset Ryhov, Jönköping, 13:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Available from: 2009-10-08 Created: 2009-10-08 Last updated: 2023-03-03Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. An outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in a Swedish Hospital
Open this publication in new window or tab >>An outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease in a Swedish Hospital
Show others...
1994 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, ISSN 0036-5548, E-ISSN 1651-1980, Vol. 26, no 4, p. 417-425Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

We report a nosocomial outbreak of Legionella pneumophila serogroup (sg) 1 infection at the general hospital, Värnamo, Sweden. From December 1990 to February 1991, 28 patients and 3 staff fell ill with pneumonia and 3 died. L. pneumophila sg 1 together with several other Legionellae were isolated from the hot water supply to 17 of 20 hospital wards, probably being spread by aerosolization via shower nozzles. Raising the hospital's hot water temperature from 45°C to 65°C, together with heat disinfection of the shower equipment, arrested the outbreak within a week. Keeping the hot water temperature < 60°C without chlorination eliminated L. pneumophila from < 75% of the wards. During a period of 2 years after the outbreak we have diagnosed only 1 case of nosocomial legionellosis at the hospital despite an active surveillance program.

National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-84311 (URN)10.3109/00365549409008615 (DOI)
Available from: 2012-10-04 Created: 2012-10-04 Last updated: 2017-12-07Bibliographically approved
2. Community spread of legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in temporal relation to a nosocomial outbreak
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Community spread of legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in temporal relation to a nosocomial outbreak
Show others...
2001 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, ISSN 0036-5548, E-ISSN 1651-1980, Vol. 33, no 3, p. 194-199Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

To clarify whether a nosocomial outbreak of legionnaires' disease in the Värnamo hospital in Sweden was part of a wider outbreak in the Värnamo community a number of investigations were performed. First, the proportion of cases of legionnaires' disease in a group with nosocomially acquired pneumonia (11%) was compared to the proportion within a group with community-acquired pneumonia (14%) and the difference was found not to be significant (p>0.05). Second, the proportion of the nursing staff at the Värnamo hospital with an elevated antibody titre (≥ 16) to Legionella pneumophila serogroup (sg) 1 (33%, 84/258) was compared to the proportion in a group of local residents of Värnamo community (26%, 25/96) and found not to be significant; in contrast, comparison with the proportion in a group from the assistant nursing staff at another hospital 60 km away (5%, 4/80) was highly significant (p<0.001). Furthermore, Legionella species were cultured from samples drawn from the hospital water supply as well from the water supply from municipal buildings. In 1996 a follow-up study was conducted, which showed that <1% of the assistant nurses and local residents had an elevated titre to L. pneumophila sg 1. These results indicate that there was a temporary spread of L. pneumophila sg 1 in the Värnamo community at the beginning of 1991, both in the local hospital and the surrounding community. This implies that physicians should be aware of community-acquired cases of legionnaires' disease when a nosocomial outbreak is detected.

National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-25879 (URN)10.1080/00365540151060824 (DOI)10316 (Local ID)10316 (Archive number)10316 (OAI)
Available from: 2009-10-08 Created: 2009-10-08 Last updated: 2017-12-13Bibliographically approved
3. Control of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease by keeping the circulating hot water temperature above 55°C: experience from a 10-year surveillance programme in a district general hospital
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Control of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease by keeping the circulating hot water temperature above 55°C: experience from a 10-year surveillance programme in a district general hospital
2002 (English)In: Journal of Hospital Infection, ISSN 0195-6701, E-ISSN 1532-2939, Vol. 50, no 3, p. 213-219Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

After a nosocomial outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in a 450-bed district general hospital in 1991, the circulating hot water temperature was kept above 55°C as the sole control measure. From 1991 to 2000, all cases of nosocomial pneumonia were clinically monitored and tested for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 by serology or urinary antigen detection. Water samples from peripheral tap sites were cultured for Legionella spp. twice a year. An infection with L. pneumophila serogroup 1 was diagnosed in four out of 366 (1.1%) patients treated for nosocomial pneumonia, representing one case per 26 000 admissions. All patients were cured without complications. L. pneumophila serogroup 1 was isolated in 30 of 251 (12%) cultured hospital water samples during the monitoring period. We conclude that control of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease in a primary referral hospital is possible by keeping the circulating hospital hot water temperature above 55°C, together with careful clinical surveillance. Complete eradication of Legionella spp. from the hot water system does not seem necessary.

National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-26410 (URN)10.1053/jhin.2002.1185 (DOI)10951 (Local ID)10951 (Archive number)10951 (OAI)
Available from: 2009-10-08 Created: 2009-10-08 Last updated: 2017-12-13Bibliographically approved
4. A single genotype of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 found in 96% of isolates from a hospital and minucipal water distribution system over a 12-year period
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A single genotype of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 found in 96% of isolates from a hospital and minucipal water distribution system over a 12-year period
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The genotypic distribution of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was investigated in the water distribution system of a 450 bed Swedish hospital and the surrounding community. A single genotype identified by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, was found in all 34 hospital isolates and in 18/20 (90%) community isolates over a 12-year surveillance period. All enviromnental isolates were either monoclonal antibody subtypes Benidorm or Bellingham. In a geographic comparison, the hospital genotype was also identified in two out of six Swedish hospitals; both located within 100 km of the studied community. In all, 70 isolates from seven Swedish communities clustered in four groups, each also containing one AFLP type as defined by the European Working Group on Legionella Infections (EWGLI). It was concluded that a single Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 genotype may colonise a large water distribution system over a long period of time, and that certain clones seem to be widely spread in the environment. Results frorn molecular typing of isolates originating from a limited geographical area must, therefore, be interpreted cautiously in epidemiological investigations of Legionnaires' disease.

National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-84313 (URN)
Available from: 2012-10-04 Created: 2012-10-04 Last updated: 2012-10-04Bibliographically approved
5. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antibody kinetics in patients with Legionnaires' disease: implications for serological diagnosis
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antibody kinetics in patients with Legionnaires' disease: implications for serological diagnosis
Show others...
2003 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, ISSN 0036-5548, E-ISSN 1651-1980, Vol. 35, no 1, p. 15-20Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

To evaluate current serological criteria for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1), the antibody response was prospectively studied in all patients hospitalized for Legionnaires' disease in a Swedish county during 11 y (n = 62). A 4-fold or greater rise in antibody titre to ≥ 128 (the minimum convalescent antibody level for diagnosis, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test, was found in 21/52 (40%) of tested patients. By referring to the titre levels in healthy residents from the local population (World Health Organization criteria), 45/52 (87%) cases were confirmed serologically. In 21 patients followed longitudinally for 10 y, the median antibody titre fell from 256 (range 32-1024) to 16 (range 2-128) in 3 y. No booster reactions were observed in any patient. After 10 y, the geometric mean titre of this clinical cohort had reached the same level as observed in the background population 5 y earlier. Titre levels in subjects exposed to Legionella from a municipal water system indicate that only 1 out of 10 of all infections are identified clinically. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody testing with local reference sera is a sensitive method for laboratory confirmation of Lp1 in an unselected pneumonia population.

National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-46696 (URN)10.1080/0036554021000026998 (DOI)
Available from: 2009-10-11 Created: 2009-10-11 Last updated: 2017-12-13Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Authority records

Darelid, Johan

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Darelid, Johan
By organisation
Infectious DiseasesFaculty of Health Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

isbn
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

isbn
urn-nbn
Total: 314 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • oxford
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf