Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
| Title: | Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022 |
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| Authors: | Hani M. Mohamed, Lindsay Zielinski, Abdoulaye Diedhiou, Nakia Clemmons, Jessica C. Smith, Jessica L. Rinsky, Troy Ritter, Melisa Willby, Nancy Burton, Karl Feldmann, Kevin Dunn, Rebecca Whisenhunt, Victoria Greer, Alberto M. Acosta, Mitchell Garber, Claressa E. Lucas, Kelley C. Henderson, Chris Edens, Linda Bell |
| Source: | Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 31, Iss 1, Pp 41-49 (2025) |
| Publisher Information: | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Collection: | LCC:Medicine LCC:Infectious and parasitic diseases |
| Subject Terms: | legionellosis, Legionella pneumophila, manufacturing facilities, water, occupational health, bacteria, Medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases, RC109-216 |
| More Details: | Evolving technology and the development of new devices that can aerosolize water present a risk for new sources of Legionella bacteria growth and spread within industrial settings. We investigated a cluster of legionellosis among employees of a manufacturing facility in South Carolina, USA, and found 2 unique equipment sources of Legionella bacteria. The cluster of cases took place during August–November 2022; a total of 34 cases of legionellosis, including 15 hospitalizations and 2 deaths, were reported. Legionella pneumophila was isolated from 3 devices: 2 water jet cutters and 1 floor scrubber. L. pneumophila sequence type 36 was identified in environmental isolates and 1 patient specimen, indicating that those devices were the likely source of infection. Remediation was ultimately achieved through the development and implementation of a device-specific water management program. Manufacturing facilities that use aerosol-generating devices should consider maintaining updated Legionella water management programs to prevent Legionella bacterial infections. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1080-6040 1080-6059 |
| Relation: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/1/24-0916_article; https://doaj.org/toc/1080-6040; https://doaj.org/toc/1080-6059 |
| DOI: | 10.3201/eid3101.240916 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/5ae80c1be3b5407c8ec0d93056b8b75e |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.5ae80c1be3b5407c8ec0d93056b8b75e |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| ISSN: | 10806040 10806059 |
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| DOI: | 10.3201/eid3101.240916 |
| Published in: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Language: | English |