Investigation and control of an outbreaks of legionnaires' disease in a district general hospital.
Between December, 1979, and July, 1980, 12 cases of legionnaires' disease were recognised in a district general hospital. 11 of the patients probably acquired their infection within the hospital. Epidemiological and environmental studies indicated that the plumbing system and possibly also the air-conditioning cooling-tower exhaust in the new building of the hospital were the sources of infection. Chlorination of the cold-water supply and raising the hot-water temperature appeared to terminate the outbreak.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000389:Air Conditioning; D000391:Air Microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply