Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022

Evolving technology and the development of new devices that can aerosolize water present a risk for new sources of Legionella bacteria growth and spread within industrial settings. We investigated a cluster of legionellosis among employees of a manufacturing facility in South Carolina, USA, and fou...

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Main Authors: Hani M. Mohamed, Lindsay Zielinski, Abdoulaye Diedhiou, Nakia Clemmons, Jessica C. Smith, Jessica L. Rinsky, Troy Ritter, Melisa Willby, Nancy Burton, Karl Feldmann, Kevin Dunn, Rebecca Whisenhunt, Victoria Greer, Alberto M. Acosta, Mitchell Garber, Claressa E. Lucas, Kelley C. Henderson, Chris Edens, Linda Bell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2025-01-01
Series:Emerging Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/1/24-0916_article
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author Hani M. Mohamed
Lindsay Zielinski
Abdoulaye Diedhiou
Nakia Clemmons
Jessica C. Smith
Jessica L. Rinsky
Troy Ritter
Melisa Willby
Nancy Burton
Karl Feldmann
Kevin Dunn
Rebecca Whisenhunt
Victoria Greer
Alberto M. Acosta
Mitchell Garber
Claressa E. Lucas
Kelley C. Henderson
Chris Edens
Linda Bell
author_facet Hani M. Mohamed
Lindsay Zielinski
Abdoulaye Diedhiou
Nakia Clemmons
Jessica C. Smith
Jessica L. Rinsky
Troy Ritter
Melisa Willby
Nancy Burton
Karl Feldmann
Kevin Dunn
Rebecca Whisenhunt
Victoria Greer
Alberto M. Acosta
Mitchell Garber
Claressa E. Lucas
Kelley C. Henderson
Chris Edens
Linda Bell
author_sort Hani M. Mohamed
collection DOAJ
description Evolving technology and the development of new devices that can aerosolize water present a risk for new sources of Legionella bacteria growth and spread within industrial settings. We investigated a cluster of legionellosis among employees of a manufacturing facility in South Carolina, USA, and found 2 unique equipment sources of Legionella bacteria. The cluster of cases took place during August–November 2022; a total of 34 cases of legionellosis, including 15 hospitalizations and 2 deaths, were reported. Legionella pneumophila was isolated from 3 devices: 2 water jet cutters and 1 floor scrubber. L. pneumophila sequence type 36 was identified in environmental isolates and 1 patient specimen, indicating that those devices were the likely source of infection. Remediation was ultimately achieved through the development and implementation of a device-specific water management program. Manufacturing facilities that use aerosol-generating devices should consider maintaining updated Legionella water management programs to prevent Legionella bacterial infections.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
record_format Article
series Emerging Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-5ae80c1be3b5407c8ec0d93056b8b75e2025-08-20T02:40:31ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592025-01-01311414910.3201/eid3101.240916Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022Hani M. MohamedLindsay ZielinskiAbdoulaye DiedhiouNakia ClemmonsJessica C. SmithJessica L. RinskyTroy RitterMelisa WillbyNancy BurtonKarl FeldmannKevin DunnRebecca WhisenhuntVictoria GreerAlberto M. AcostaMitchell GarberClaressa E. LucasKelley C. HendersonChris EdensLinda Bell Evolving technology and the development of new devices that can aerosolize water present a risk for new sources of Legionella bacteria growth and spread within industrial settings. We investigated a cluster of legionellosis among employees of a manufacturing facility in South Carolina, USA, and found 2 unique equipment sources of Legionella bacteria. The cluster of cases took place during August–November 2022; a total of 34 cases of legionellosis, including 15 hospitalizations and 2 deaths, were reported. Legionella pneumophila was isolated from 3 devices: 2 water jet cutters and 1 floor scrubber. L. pneumophila sequence type 36 was identified in environmental isolates and 1 patient specimen, indicating that those devices were the likely source of infection. Remediation was ultimately achieved through the development and implementation of a device-specific water management program. Manufacturing facilities that use aerosol-generating devices should consider maintaining updated Legionella water management programs to prevent Legionella bacterial infections. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/1/24-0916_articlelegionellosisLegionella pneumophilamanufacturing facilitieswateroccupational healthbacteria
spellingShingle Hani M. Mohamed
Lindsay Zielinski
Abdoulaye Diedhiou
Nakia Clemmons
Jessica C. Smith
Jessica L. Rinsky
Troy Ritter
Melisa Willby
Nancy Burton
Karl Feldmann
Kevin Dunn
Rebecca Whisenhunt
Victoria Greer
Alberto M. Acosta
Mitchell Garber
Claressa E. Lucas
Kelley C. Henderson
Chris Edens
Linda Bell
Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
Emerging Infectious Diseases
legionellosis
Legionella pneumophila
manufacturing facilities
water
occupational health
bacteria
title Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
title_full Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
title_fullStr Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
title_full_unstemmed Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
title_short Cluster of Legionellosis Cases Associated with Manufacturing Process, South Carolina, USA, 2022
title_sort cluster of legionellosis cases associated with manufacturing process south carolina usa 2022
topic legionellosis
Legionella pneumophila
manufacturing facilities
water
occupational health
bacteria
url https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/1/24-0916_article
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