Church Jetted Baptismal Font Linked to Legionellosis Outbreak-Tennessee, 2023.

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Journal of Environmental Health, 2025, v. 87, no. 8: Church Jetted Baptismal Font Linked to Legionellosis Outbreak-Tennessee, 2023.
• Journal Article:
  Journal of Environmental Health
• Personal Author:
  Thomas, Christine M. ; Goonewardene, Dilani ; Schuman, Julie ; Kmet, Jennifer ; Sentiff, Lisa ; Woods, Yolanda ; Roth, Emma ; Yackley, Jane ; Allgood, Ariana ; Conway, Brielle ; Jordan, Veneda ; Sally, Brian ; Terrell, Erica ; Jones, Timothy F. ; Schaffner, William ; Fill, Mary-Margaret A. ; Dunn, John R.
• Description:
  In May 2023, the Shelby County Health Department identified a legionellosis outbreak among attendees of the same church. Epidemiologic, environmental, and laboratory investigations were initiated. Laboratory-based surveillance identified persons with a positive
  
  test result. Church attendees were surveyed about attendance, symptoms of legionellosis, and water exposures. Environmental assessment of the church included asking about recent water management practices and collecting samples from water sources for culture. The health department identified 16 church attendees who had legionellosis symptoms. Of these, 9 (56%) had positive laboratory test results for
  
  , 7 were hospitalized, and none died. Our investigation revealed that recent changes in water management practices at the church included renewed operation of a large, jetted baptismal font. In all, 17 environmental samples were collected; of these samples, 5 (including 4 from the baptismal font) had
  
  serogroup 1 isolated by culture. Environmental sampling was crucial in identifying the baptismal font as the likely source of
  
  . Education about water management and remediation recommendations were provided to staff at the church.
• Content Notes:
  Author manuscript
• Subjects:
  • Legionella pneumophila
  • Legionnaires' Disease
  • Health Education
  • Legionellosis
• Keywords:
  • Legionella pneumophila
  • legionellosis outbreak
  • serogroup 1
  • community education
  • water management
• Source:
  Journal of Environmental Health, 2025, v. 87, no. 8
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.70387/001c.133851
• ISSN:
  0022-0892
• Pubmed ID:
  40356673
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC12067422
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Name as Subject:
  Tennessee
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Pages in Document:
  15 pdf pages
• Volume:
  87
• Issue:
  8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/261415/cdc_261415_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 464.28 KB]
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:57a5b1c5e809b31fc6a0f2efe21ff25274c9655a403ea56be30c02d71fa44416a588bd1b90c866bb8d3c1f1d5e9477eeb5c27055f2dcdd1c95d34af00583d3a5