The LA Fitness club located at 12700 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County, Florida is one of two LA Fitness clubs in the area that have been under investigation after members contracted Legionnaires’ disease. A few of the water samples taken by the Florida Department of Health from the Blossom Trail facility have now come back positive for Legionella bacteria. This LA Fitness, as well as another location in Metro West have been under investigation since May of this year after a total of four cases of Legionnaires’ disease were found among members. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of…
The 23rd Precinct at 162 E. 102nd Street in East Harlem is the common workplace to two police officers that have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. The first officer fell ill with Legionnaires’ disease and was hospitalized, prompting testing of the precinct’s water. Those results were finalized earlier this month, and revealed traces of Legionella bacteria, the bacteria responsible for causing Legionnaires’ disease. The Health Department is reportedly investigating the second case of Legionnaires’ disease, but has not yet determined if the precinct’s water is responsible for this officer’s illness. Inspectors are looking towards the pipes at the station house as…
Two people were hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease after visiting the Foothill Ranch community pool and spa located at 27021 Burbank in Foothill Ranch, California. While it was originally unclear whether or not the community pool and spa was the cause of these illnesses, testing performed by the Orange County Health Care Agency revealed that three samples from the spa tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria can be found in warm hot tub water when it is not properly cleaned or disinfected. When this water becomes aerosolized and inhaled through the lungs, a person may contract Legionnaires disease, a severe type of…
Positive findings of Legionella bacteria were found throughout the water system in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The investigation came about after two guests contracted Legionnaires ’ disease following their stay at the Rio Hotel in March and April. Test results conducted by The Southern Nevada Health District following the second reported case of the disease showed the presence of the bacteria. The company is now taking action to remediate the problem and disinfect the water. Guests are being alerted and are being relocated while remediation is taking place. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia…
Two weeks ago, a resident of the St. Paul’s community tested positive for presence of Legionella antigen. The community has since tested their facilities and are awaiting results to see if their community was the source of the bacteria. Community leaders have expressed in a statement released in the Record Argus that “At this time, we are taking an abundance of caution as we investigate.” The CEO of St. Paul’s, Chris Wright, advised that the efforts being taken include enlisting the assistance of consultants and discussing as a group about where any of the community’s risks for the bacteria may…
Samaritan Medical Center had its water retested on May 15, 2017 after the legionella bacteria was in found in the hospital’s water systems. The hospital originally reported that it expected testing results to be returned by the following Friday; however, Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle says that the testing will not be completing on the samples for at least another 10 days. For more information, click here
Samples taken from the water system at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, New York tested positive for low levels of Legionella on May 8, 2017. The Legionella was found in the Pratt building, which is the oldest part of the hospital. It is believed that the infrequently used faucets, old pipes, and recent construction in this part of the facility may be the cause of the contaminated water. Spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle has stated that the facility has since replaced the valves and begun to flush the water lines daily. Legionella bacteria can cause respiratory illnesses such as Legionellosis and…
Researchers at the University of Torino in Italy have discovered a novel way to test for low concentrations of legionella pneumophila in water. One of the most commonly used methods of testing for legionella in water involves growing a culture from the biofilm (slime) that rests on the surfaces of water systems. Large amounts of water are also included and tested in this method. The samples are then taken into a lab where it takes anywhere from 7-14 days for any potential bacteria culture to grow. Another common testing method is what is called Quantitative Polymer Chain Reaction (qPCR). This method uses DNA testing to…
Researchers at the University of Manitoba – Winnipeg and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg have published the results of their research into a new antibiotic compound. This compound, referred to as PEG-2s, is novel in the way it ‘attacks’ infecting bacteria. Traditional antibiotics usually target a bacteria cell’s cell wall or its processes of DNA replication and protein synthesis. PEG-2s instead takes aim at one particular protein that is responsible for providing energy to the cell. The compound is so accurate and effective that the researchers claim that it does not have an effect on good gut bacteria or the body’s…
A European research consortium, comprised of university researchers, chemical analysis labs, and an Italian HVAC manufacturer. Researchers at the POSEIDON Project, which stands for Plasmonic-Based Automated Lab-on-Chip Sensor for the Rapid in-Situ Detection of Legionella, have begun the testing phase of a device that can instantly detect legionella. The device uses an optical sensor to automatically detect the presence of legionella bacteria. The current method of testing for the presence of legionella takes days, as a sample is taken and analysts wait for a culture of legionella bacteria to grow. The POSEIDON Project is only slated to be installed in HVAC and…