They are investigating a probable case of Legionella in a hospital in La Plata: what is it, what are its symptoms and how is it transmitted

And 49 year old patient would have been affected by Legionella bacteria disease oh Legionellosis at San Martín de La Plata Hospital, according to the Ministry of Health of Province of Buenos Aires. Confirmatory results are still awaited by the national reference laboratory within ANLIS/Institut Malbrán.

This is a probable case of Legionellaan infection that can spread through suction of contaminated water or iceespecially from hospitalized patients vulnerable, among others.

In August last year, Legionella affected 22 people associated with a private sanatorium in Tucumán. There were 6 deaths.

Regarding the new probable case, San Martín Hospital reported that the patient had multiple myeloma (a blood cancer) and was admitted to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (UTMO). The man had been admitted to hospital on a scheduled basis on February 24 to access an autologous transplant.

“Results from the National Reference Laboratory of environmental samples obtained for source identification are awaited,” the hospital said in a statement.

He also urged all health personnel to adopt preventive measures and alarm guidelines for prompt notification of symptoms and monitoring of cases.

While in hospital, the 49-year-old patient started having a fever on March 3. It progressed to high fever and respiratory symptoms the next day. “He is evolving in a torpid way, entering the intensive care unit on March 10,” it was detailed.

Doctors indicated mechanical ventilation for the patient. Until last Monday, a positive result was obtained for Legionella pneumophila by the test known as FilmArray in the hospital. A urinary antigen test also came back positive for Legionella on Tuesday.

Interesting information is that the patient remained hospitalized between February 15 and 16 in another department of the same establishment before being admitted to undergo the transplant.

One form of Legionella transmission is the inhalation of contaminated aerosols generated by spraying, jetting and misting contaminated water. The other is the aspiration of contaminated water or ice.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has described how transmission can occur: “After Legionella bacteria have grown and multiplied in a building’s water system, the water that contains them can be dispersed as droplets small enough for people to inhale.” People can get Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever when they inhale droplets containing the bacteria.

Based on the probable case, the San Martín Hospital indicated that it had adopted different measures due to the potential risk of transmission of the bacterium within its facilities. An interdisciplinary committee was formed, the bone marrow transplant unit was closed and the patients were transferred on Monday, March 13, with the refrigeration system closed.

An epidemiological investigation into the case and its possible sources is ongoing. Water samples were taken from different supply points of the pavilions where the case was, which was in charge of the Tomás Perón Biological Institute on March 14, according to the statement.

The use of running water was also restricted and canisters of water were purchased for consumption and disinfection of staff and patients in the hospital wards under study. Active monitoring of patients and people exposed in research departments is underway. The incubation period for Legionella infection is 14 days from exposure.

In addition, a retrospective search was performed for hospitalized patients who met the definition of a suspected case in hospital medical records. The most common symptoms are cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain and headache.

Although there are treatments, there is no vaccine for this disease, according to the World Health Organization. If left untreated, Legionnaire’s disease usually gets worse within the first week. Globally, between 75% and 80% of reported cases are people over the age of 50, and between 60% and 70% are men.

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