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Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages
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Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages

Published on: February 22, 2017

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A major focus of Legionnaires' disease in Bloomington, Indiana

B D Politi, D W Fraser, G F Mallison

    Annals of Internal Medicine
    |April 1, 1979
    PubMed

    Insights

    Visitors to the Indiana Memorial Union had a significantly higher risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease. Environmental sampling identified Legionella bacteria, suggesting the Union was a likely source of the outbreak.

    Area of Science:

    • Epidemiology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Environmental Health

    Background:

    • Legionnaires' disease is a severe bacterial pneumonia.
    • An outbreak occurred in Bloomington, Indiana, over 16 months.
    • The Indiana Memorial Union was identified as a potential common exposure site.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the source and transmission of Legionnaires' disease cases in Bloomington, Indiana.
    • To determine the association between visiting the Indiana Memorial Union and Legionnaires' disease risk.
    • To identify environmental sources of Legionella bacteria.

    Main Methods:

    • Case-control study comparing ill individuals with controls.
    • Retrospective analysis of sporadic cases nationwide.
    • Environmental sampling for Legionella bacteria.
    • Serological testing of hotel employees.

    Main Results:

    • Thirty-nine cases were identified; 35 were linked to the Indiana Memorial Union.
    • Union visitors had a 17-fold higher risk of Legionnaires' disease compared to local residents.
    • Legionnaires' disease bacterium was isolated from five environmental sites.
    • Long-term Union employees showed higher seropositivity rates.

    Conclusions:

    • The Indiana Memorial Union was strongly implicated as the source of Legionnaires' disease transmission.
    • Environmental factors at the Union, potentially including cooling towers, contributed to the outbreak.
    • Further investigation and control measures are necessary to prevent future outbreaks.

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