Epidemiology of drug abuse from psychiatry hospitals in Taiwan. (January 1995–May 1996)

Abstract

“LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE IN PATTAYA, THAILAND, 1995.” Pomsak Yoochroen, C. Lupkiparo, S. Tungckwoensil, K. Singklang, W. Watmnasurakit, and W. Praweenkitipom. Thai Field Epidemiology Training Program, Nonthaburi, Thailand. Introduction: The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed by the Embassy of United Kingdom about an English male tourist who developed illness which was later confirmed as Legionnaires’ disease after returning from Thailand. The case was a 41 -year-old who spent his three-week holiday, durmg August 15th-September 6th, in a hotel at Pattaya area. Thai FETP was requested to investigate the source and extent of the disease. Methodology: We performed additional case findings in the hotel by randomly interviewing half of the total workers regarding medical illness which was diagnosed as pneumonia during August to September period. Each worker was asked to undergo antibody testing for L. pneumophila serogroups 1-6. Our team collected 31 water specimens for culture of L. pneumophila species from various water storage areas, fountains, air conditioners, shower head and faucets around the hotel. Results: The hotel has 75 workers, none of whom developed or was diagnosed with pneumonia during the specified period. Forty-eight percent whom (18/37) of the hotel workers were positive for at least one serogroup of L. pnettmophila spa. Antibodies to serogroup 6 were most commonly found (37%) followed by serogroup 3 and 5. The age of the antibodies posittve workers ranged from 16 to 50 years old with mean age of 26. The hotel has two main buildings with a connectron to each other by the first floor. The facilities were composed of two swimmq pools and two fountains. Each room was equipped with one split type air conditioner. The hotel kept the pipe water in its submerged tank before pumping to the cold and hot water storage tanks on the roof. One specimen from the hot water tank was positive for serogroup 5. The other two specimens from faucets in one non-index case room were positive for serogroup 3. Conclusions: Thts investigation confirmed that L. pneumophih spp. and infection can be detected in the study place. Previous environmental cultures from water storage areas in other provinces also found L. pneumophila. However, the mvestigation cannot conclude that the index case was infected inside the hotel accommodation. Thai medical and public health people need to be aware of potential outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the future.