Legionellosis, 2013

During 2013, 50 confirmed cases of legionellosis (Legionnaires’ disease [LD]) were reported (0.9 per 100,000 population), including 24 cases (48%) among residents of the metropolitan area and 26 (52%) cases among Greater Minnesota residents. Four (8%) cases died. Thirty-five (70%) of the cases were male. Older adults were more often affected, with 39 (78%) cases occurring among individuals ≥50 years of age (overall median, 63 years; range, 18 to 90 years). Twenty-eight (57%) cases had onset dates in June through September. Travel-associated LD accounted for 9 (18%) cases, defined as spending 1 or more overnight stays away from the case’s residence in the 10 days before onset of illness.

The criteria for confirmation of a confirmed LD case requires a clinically compatible illness and at least one of the following: 1) isolation of any Legionella organism from respiratory secretions, lung tissue, pleural fluid, or other normally sterile fluid by culture, or 2) detection of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine using validated reagents, or 3) seroconversion of fourfold or greater rise in specific serum antibody titer to L. pneumophila serogroup 1 using validated reagents. A single antibody titer at any level is not of diagnostic value for LD. The American Thoracic Society, in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases Society of America, recommends urinary antigen assay and culture of respiratory secretions on selective media for detection of LD. Culture is particularly useful because environmental and clinical isolates can be compared by molecular typing in outbreaks and in investigations of health care-associated LD.

• For up to date information see>> Legionellosis (Legionella): Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2013