Church Jetted Baptismal Font Linked to Legionellosis Outbreak-Tennessee, 2023

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Legionellosis outbreaks can occur in community settings.
• Water management practices are critical for preventing Legionella transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a legionellosis outbreak among church attendees.
• To identify the source of Legionella bacteria and implement control measures.

Main Methods:

• Epidemiologic, environmental, and laboratory investigations were conducted.
• Case finding involved surveying attendees and laboratory testing for Legionella.
• Environmental assessment included water sampling and culture for Legionella pneumophila.

Main Results:

• Sixteen church attendees were diagnosed with legionellosis.
• Nine attendees tested positive for Legionella pneumophila.
• The jetted baptismal font was identified as the likely source, with L. pneumophila serogroup 1 isolated from samples.

Conclusions:

• Changes in water management, specifically the reintroduction of a jetted baptismal font, likely led to the outbreak.
• Environmental sampling was key to identifying the contaminated water source.
• Recommendations for water management and remediation were provided to the church.