Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in West Fife: review of environmental guidelines needed
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Published on: November 22, 2013
J M Hyland1, N Hamlet, C Saunders
1Public Health Department, NHS Fife, Cameron House, Cameron Hospital, Windygates KY8 5RG, UK. Jackie.hyland@nhs.net
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were to investigate the source of and outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in West Fife in 2004; to control the spread of legionella from this source; and to make recommendations for future practice based on the findings from the investigation.
Study Design:
Outbreak investigation.
Methods:
A multi-agency team investigated links between the cases of legionellosis using detailed interviews, movement mapping, a timeline and extensive environmental sampling.
Results:
The investigation found evidence that individuals affected by legionella during this outbreak had been in, or near (within 800 m), sullage tanks in Rosyth Dockyard within a period of 4 months.
Conclusions:
In the absence of laboratory isolation of Legionella spp. from the human cases, it was impossible to state definitely that a previously unrecognized source of environmental legionella aerosolization was responsible for the outbreak. However, strong epidemiological and environmental evidence would support this hypothesis.
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