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Volume 31, Number 1—January 2025
Synopsis

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

Hani M. Mohamed1Comments to Author , Lindsay Zielinski1, Abdoulaye Diedhiou2, Nakia Clemmons2, 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, and Linda Bell
Author affiliation: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, South Carolina, USA (H.M. Mohamed, A. Diedhiou, R. Whisenhunt, V. Greer, L. Bell); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (L. Zielinski, N. Clemmons, J.C. Smith, T. Ritter, M. Willby, C.E. Lucas, K.C Henderson, C. Edens); National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (J.L. Rinsky, N. Burton, K. Feldmann, K. Dunn); Weill Cornell College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA (A.M. Acosta); Engineering Systems Inc., Aurora, Illinois, USA (M. Garber)

Main Article

Table 1

Characteristics of patients with legionellosis associated with a manufacturing facility, South Carolina, USA, May 16, 2022–November 30, 2022*

Characteristics Case classification, no. (%)
Confirmed LD Probable LD Probable Pontiac fever Total
No. cases
 10 (29.4)
 20 (58.8)
 4 (11.8)
 34 (100)
Patient sex
F 3 (27.3) 5 (45.5) 3 (27.3) 11 (32.4)
M
 7 (30.4)
 15 (65.2)
 1 (4.3)
 23 (67.6)
Age group, y
18–49 8 (29.6) 15 (55.6) 4 (14.8) 27 (79.4)
50–64
 2 (28.6)
 5 (71.4)
 0
 7 (20.6)
Work shift
First 4 (23.5) 11 (64.7) 2 (11.8) 17 (50)
Second 2 (50) 2 (50) 0 4 (11.8)
Third 1 (20) 3 (60) 1 (20) 5 (14.7)
Unknown
 3(37.5)
 4(0.5)
 1(12.5)
 8 (23.5)
Outcome
Died 1 (50) 1 (50) 0 2 (5.9)
Hospitalized
 9 (60)
 6 (40)
 0
 15 (44.1)
Symptoms
Cough 10 (31.3) 18 (56.3) 4 (12.5) 32 (94.1)
Fever
 9 (31)
 18 (62.1)
 2 (6.9)
 29 (85.3)
Underlying conditions†
 3 (37.5)
 4 (50)
 1 (12.5)
 8 (23.5)
Areas of exposure‡
Break room 1 1 (10) 6 (60) 3 (30) 10 (29.4)
Break room 2 1 (25) 3 (75) 0 4 (11.8)
Break room 3 2 (33.3) 4 (66.7) 0 6 (17.7)
Break room 4 3 (33.3) 5 (55.6) 1 (11.1) 9 (26.5)
Break room 5 3 (60) 2 (40) 0 5 (14.7)
Chiller§ 1 (100) 0 0 1 (2.9)
Cooling towers 2 (66.7) 1 (33.3) 0 3 (8.8)
Water jet cutters 2 (25) 4 (50) 2 (25) 8 (23.5)
Sprinkler system 1 (100) 0 0 1 (2.9)
Ice bank§ 3 (37.5) 5 (62.5) 0 8 (23.5)
Misters 1 (100) 0 0 1 (2.9)
Drinking water fountain 3 (21.4) 9 (64.3) 2 (14.3) 14 (41.2)

*LD, Legionnaires’ disease. †Patients with any of the following conditions: alcohol abuse, cancer, cerebral accident/stroke, chronic diarrhea, chronic liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, blood cancer, immunosuppressive condition, drug use, organ transplant, chronic renal failure, sickle cell anemia, or systemic lupus erythematosus. ‡Self-reported frequently visited areas aside from the assigned work station. §Component of the comfort cooling system at the facility that does not aerosolize water.

Main Article

1These first authors contributed equally to this article.

2These authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: December 10, 2024
Page updated: December 19, 2024
Page reviewed: December 19, 2024
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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