A community outbreak of legionnaires' disease associated with a cooling tower in Vic and Gurb, Catalonia (Spain) in 2005

We report the investigation of a communityacquired 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.

• Autores: Sala Ferré, M. R.; Arias, César; Oliva, Jesús M.; Pedrol, A.; García, María Isabel; Pellicer, Teresa; Roura, P.; Domińguez, Ángela R.
• Tipo de recurso: Article of journal
• Fecha de publicación: 2009
• Institución: Universidad El Bosque
• Repositorio: Repositorio U. El Bosque
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.unbosque.edu.co:20.500.12495/5887
• Acceso en línea: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12495/5887
• Palabra clave: Adulto; Microbiología del aire; Brotes de Enfermedades; Electroforesis
• Rights: openAccess
• License: Acceso abierto