%0 Journal Article
%T Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in West Fife: review of environmental guidelines needed.
%A Hyland JM
%A Hamlet N
%A Saunders C
%A Coppola J
%A Watt J
%J Public Health
%V 122
%N 1
%D Jan 2008
%M 17663011
%F 4.984
%R 10.1016/j.puhe.2007.05.005
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>The objectives of this study were to investigate the source of and outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in West Fife in 2004; to control the spread of legionella from this source; and to make recommendations for future practice based on the findings from the investigation.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Outbreak investigation.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A multi-agency team investigated links between the cases of legionellosis using detailed interviews, movement mapping, a timeline and extensive environmental sampling.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The investigation found evidence that individuals affected by legionella during this outbreak had been in, or near (within 800 m), sullage tanks in Rosyth Dockyard within a period of 4 months.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In the absence of laboratory isolation of Legionella spp. from the human cases, it was impossible to state definitely that a previously unrecognized source of environmental legionella aerosolization was responsible for the outbreak. However, strong epidemiological and environmental evidence would support this hypothesis.