[Legionellosis in Poland in 2006]

In 2006 the 89 cases and in 2005 the 21 cases of legionellosis were reported in Poland, the incidence rate was respectively 0.23 and 0.055/100 000. Legionellosis is a notified disease in Poland since 2002, but laboratory diagnostic methods were introduced even earlier, in 1997. The increasing trend in incidence rate was due to an active cooperation with some hospital staff and financial support from Polish Committee of Research Activity. The first time nosocomial Legionella infections were observed in Poland. The outbreak occurred among patients of ophthalmic ward. Five cases with pneumonia were examined by laboratory methods: for two the diagnose was confirmed, for two were presumptive, for one was not confirmed. Three persons died (two with diagnose presumptive, one with confirmed). Every registered case was laboratory examined in National Institute of Hygiene, the only place where laboratory tests were performed. Most of the cases were diagnosed with serological tests--determination with ELISA test the anti-legionella antibodies in IgM fraction as the most recent answer for Legionella infection, few by detection of legionella antigen in urine. All BAL specimens from several patients were negative when examined with culture method, but some were positive with PCR only. Since 1987 to 2006 the 17 foreign tourists were registered in EU countries as probably infected in Poland. Epidemiological investigation with the examination of water system for Legionella sp., cleaning and disinfection (if needed) was done in suspected hotels.