Potential Association of Legionnaires’ Disease with Hot Spring Water, Hot Springs National Park and Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA, 2018–2019

James, Allison E.; Kesteloot, Kurt; Paul, J. Terry; McMullen, Richard L.; Louie, Shirley; Waters, Catherine; Dillaha, Jennifer; Tumlison, Joel; Haselow, Dirk T.; Smith, Jessica C.; Lee, Sooji; Ritter, Troy; Lucas, Claressa; Kunz, Jasen; Miller, Laura A.; Said, Maria

doi:10.3201/eid2801.211090

i

Potential Association of Legionnaires’ Disease with Hot Spring Water, Hot Springs National Park and Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA, 2018–2019

Supporting Files Public Domain

1 2022
By James, Allison E. ; Kesteloot, Kurt ; Paul, J. Terry ; ...

File Language:

English

Details

Alternative Title:

Emerg Infect Dis
Personal Author:

James, Allison E. ; Kesteloot, Kurt ; Paul, J. Terry ; McMullen, Richard L. ; Louie, Shirley ; Waters, Catherine ; Dillaha, Jennifer ; Tumlison, Joel ; Haselow, Dirk T. ; Smith, Jessica C. ; Lee, Sooji ; Ritter, Troy ; Lucas, Claressa ; Kunz, Jasen ; Miller, Laura A. ; Said, Maria
Description:

Legionella pneumophila is the cause of Legionnaires' disease, a life-threatening pneumonia that occurs after inhalation of aerosolized water containing the bacteria. Legionella growth occurs in stagnant, warm-to-hot water (77°F-113°F) that is inadequately disinfected. Piped hot spring water in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, USA, has naturally high temperatures (>135°F) that prevent Legionella growth, and Legionnaires' disease has not previously been associated with the park or other hot springs in the United States. During 2018-2019, Legionnaires' disease occurred in 5 persons after they visited the park; 3 of these persons were potentially exposed in spa facilities that used untreated hot spring water. Environmental testing revealed Legionella bacteria in piped spring water, including 134°F stagnant pipe water. These findings underscore the importance of water management programs to reduce Legionella growth in plumbing through control activities such as maintaining hot water temperatures, reducing stored water age, and ensuring adequate water flow.
Subjects:

Humans Legionella Pneumophila Legionnaires' Disease Parks, Recreational Water Water Microbiology Water Supply
Source:

Emerg Infect Dis. 2022; 28(1):44-50
Pubmed ID:

34932451
Pubmed Central ID:

PMC8714197
Document Type:

Journal Article
Place as Subject:

Arkansas
Volume:

28
Issue:

1
Collection(s):

Emerging Infectious Diseases
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:1f1d644fd639b128d3b33dda590d8325ac4f84dd43f86e0f70d6464dea2ef401
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/113329/cdc_113329_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.05 MB ]

File Language:

English

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