Recreational Vehicle Water Tanks as a Possible Source for Legionella Infections

Christine M. Litwin; Bankole Asebiomo; Katherine Wilson; Michael Hafez; Valerie Stevens; Carl B. Fliermans; Barry S. Fields; John F. Fisher

doi:10.1155/2013/286347

Case Reports in Infectious Diseases (Jan 2013)

Recreational Vehicle Water Tanks as a Possible Source for Legionella Infections

Christine M. Litwin,
Bankole Asebiomo,
Katherine Wilson,
Michael Hafez,
Valerie Stevens,
Carl B. Fliermans,
Barry S. Fields,
John F. Fisher

Affiliations

Christine M. Litwin: Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Bankole Asebiomo: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Katherine Wilson: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Michael Hafez: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
Valerie Stevens: Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Carl B. Fliermans: Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
Barry S. Fields: Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
John F. Fisher: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/286347
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2013

Abstract

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We investigated recreational vehicle (RV) water reservoirs in response to a case of pneumonia in which Legionella pneumophila was cultured both from the patient and a RV reservoir in which he travelled. Water samples processed and cultured at the CDC according to standard protocol were positive for Legionella spp. in 4/17 (24%) faucets, 1/11 (9%) water tanks from 4/20 (20%) RVs from three different campsites. Legionella spp. that were isolated included L. pneumophila (serogroups 1 and 6), L. anisa, L. feeleii, and L. quateriensis. Environmental controls from the potable water of the three campsites were culture-negative. A survey of maintenance practices by the RV users at the campsites revealed that chlorine disinfection of the water tanks was rarely performed. To prevent the possibility of Legionella infections, RV owners should implement regular chlorine disinfection of their water tanks and follow the recommended maintenance guidelines according to their owner's manuals.

Published in Case Reports in Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 2090-6625 (Print); 2090-6633 (Online)
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/4806

About the journal