Legionnaires' Disease acquired within the homes of two patients: link to the home water supply

Journal Article · Fri Mar 06 04:00:00 EST 1987 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.257.9.1215· OSTI ID:6475754

Stout, J E; Yu, V L; Muraca, P

Two patients with sporadic community-acquired legionnaires' disease are described. Legionella pneumophila was isolated from sputum specimens, and seroconversion of antibody titers was demonstrated for both patients. Legionella pneumophila was also recovered from the residential water supply of both patients. In each case, the serogroup of the environmental organism matched that of the infecting organism. In one patient, serogroup 3 was isolated - a rare cause of legionnaires' disease, and in the second case, monoclonal antibody testing confirmed that the serogroup 1 organisms isolated from sputum and residential water supply samples were identical. The incubation period of legionnaires' disease is presumed to be up to two weeks. Because of medical problems, both patients had been confined to their homes for the entire two weeks before the onset of symptoms. This is the first report that links acquisition of community-acquired legionnaires' disease to contaminated water supplies within the homes of susceptible patients.

• Research Organization: VA Medical College, Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 6475754
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 257:9; ISSN JAMAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL DISEASES
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BODY AREAS
CHEST
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY
HOUSEHOLDS
IMMUNOASSAY
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA
MEDICINE
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
PATIENTS
PLUMBING
POLLUTION
RADIOLOGY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER SUPPLY