Fatal nosocomial Legionella pneumophila infection due to exposure to contaminated water from a washbasin in a hematology unit

Alexandre Brûlet; Marie-Christine Nicolle; Marine Giard; Franck-Emmanuel Nicolini; Mauricette Michallet; Sophie Jarraud; Jérôme Etienne; Philippe Vanhems

doi:10.1086/591739

Fatal nosocomial Legionella pneumophila infection due to exposure to contaminated water from a washbasin in a hematology unit

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2008 Nov;29(11):1091-3. doi: 10.1086/591739.

Authors

Alexandre Brûlet¹, Marie-Christine Nicolle, Marine Giard, Franck-Emmanuel Nicolini, Mauricette Michallet, Sophie Jarraud, Jérôme Etienne, Philippe Vanhems

Affiliation

¹ Service d'Hygiène, Epidémiologie et Prévention, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.

PMID: 18937569
DOI: 10.1086/591739

Abstract

A fatal nosocomial infection with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 5 occurred in a patient with leukemia. Isolates recovered from both the potable water supply and the patient showed an identical genomic profile. With no other exposure identified, the water from the washbasin was evidently the source of infection.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Cross Infection / epidemiology
Cross Infection / etiology*
Cross Infection / microbiology
Cross Infection / prevention & control
Fatal Outcome
Female
Hematology
Hospital Units
Humans
Infection Control
Legionella pneumophila / classification
Legionella pneumophila / isolation & purification
Legionella pneumophila / physiology*
Legionnaires' Disease / epidemiology
Legionnaires' Disease / etiology*
Legionnaires' Disease / microbiology
Legionnaires' Disease / prevention & control
Middle Aged
Water Microbiology*
Water Supply*