Humidifier-associated paediatric Legionnaires' disease, Israel, February 2012

Euro Surveill. 2012 Oct 11;17(41):20293.

Abstract

We report a fatal case of community-acquired Legionnaires' disease in an infant aged under six months. Epidemiological and microbiological investigations suggested that a free-standing cold water humidifier using domestic tap water contaminated with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 served as a vehicle for infection. These findings were corroborated by sequence-based typing (SBT). Humidifier-associated Legionnaires' disease can be prevented by appropriate control measures. This case also illustrates the emerging role of SBT in the investigation of legionellosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cold Temperature / adverse effects
  • Equipment Contamination
  • Equipment Design / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Humidity*
  • Infant
  • Israel
  • Legionella pneumophila / genetics
  • Legionella pneumophila / isolation & purification
  • Legionnaires' Disease / etiology
  • Legionnaires' Disease / microbiology
  • Molecular Typing
  • Pediatrics*
  • Water Microbiology