Pontiac fever: an operational definition for epidemiological studies

Tossa, Paul; Deloge-Abarkan, Magali; Zmirou‐Navier, Denis; Hartemann, Philippe; Mathieu, Laurence

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-112

Cited by 40 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…However, the epidemiology of Pontiac fever in New Zealand, as with other jurisdictions, is not as well characterized as LD due to Pontiac fever being relatively benign and frequently not requiring medical invention [4] The annual incidence rates for New Zealand were calculated by dividing the number of notified cases for each year by the mid-year population estimates and the results were expressed as cases per 100 000. The mid-year population estimates were sourced from Statistics New Zealand which conducts a census of population every 5 years.…”

Section: Surveillance Of Legionellosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Legionella is associated with two distinct clinical illnesses : Pontiac fever, a non-pneumonic, selflimiting influenza-like illness of typically 2-5 days' duration following an incubation period of 5-72 h [4] ; and Legionnaires' disease (LD) which is characterized by atypical pneumonia with an incubation period of 2-10 days and carries a fatality rate of 10-15% in otherwise healthy individuals [5]. Both Pontiac fever and LD fit a spectrum of illness that occurs as a result of environmental exposure to Legionella [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changing epidemiological trends of legionellosis in New Zealand, 1979–2009

Graham

White²,

Harte

et al. 2011

Epidemiol. Infect.

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SUMMARYThis study evaluated the spatio-temporal variation of Legionella spp. in New Zealand using notification and laboratory surveillance data from 1979 to 2009 and analysed the epidemiological trends. To achieve this we focused on changing incidence rates and occurrence of different species over this time. We also examined whether demographic characteristics such as ethnicity may be related to incidence. The annual incidence rate for laboratory-proven cases was 2 . 5/100 000 and 1 . 4/100 000 for notified cases. Incidence was highest in the European population and showed large geographical variations between 21 District Health Boards. An important finding of this study is that the predominant Legionella species causing disease in New Zealand differs from that found in other developed countries, with about 30-50% of cases due to L. longbeachae and a similar percentage due to L. pneumophila for any given year. The environmental risk exposure was identified in 420 (52 %) cases, of which 58 % were attributed to contact with compost ; travel was much less significant as a risk factor (6 . 5 %). This suggests that legionellosis has a distinctive epidemiological pattern in New Zealand.

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Section: Surveillance Of Legionellosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing epidemiological trends of legionellosis in New Zealand, 1979–2009

Graham

White²,

Harte

et al. 2011

Epidemiol. Infect.

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“…Numerous comparative studies of both community-acquired and nosocomial legionellosis show the clinical, radiological and laboratory features to be nonspecific [67,57,3]. The illness is characterized by a high attack rate of greater than 70 to 90% of exposed persons and an incubation period (typically 30 to 90 hours, with an average of 36 h) [68]. In addition, many persons who are infected with Legionella, as proven by seroconversion, will remain asymptomatic [69].…”

Section: Pontiac Fevermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, many persons who are infected with Legionella, as proven by seroconversion, will remain asymptomatic [69]. The illness typically resolves without complications within two to five days [68]. Upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms have not been associated with this illness.…”

Section: Pontiac Fevermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Age, gender and smoking do not seem to be risk factors [68]. Rather, Pontiac Fever seems to affect preferentially young subjects: the age of cases was 36 to 39 years in the original Pontiac episode [68], and age medians during different documented epidemics were 29, 30 and 32 years [68]. Approximately 25% of cases are nosocomial in origin; the remainder is community-acquired [70].…”

Section: Pontiac Fevermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nosocomial Legionnaires’ Disease: Risque and Prevention

Tai¹,

Benchekroun²,

Ennaji³

et al. 2012

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In 1977, Fraser et al. described an outbreak of pneumonia among legionnaires attending a convention at a hotel in Philadelphia in 1976. Legionnaires' disease (LD) can be nosocomial, community acquired or travel related. The incidence of hospital-acquired legionellosis appears to be increasing. Colonization of water systems by Legionella spp. is ubiquitous in hospitals throughout the world. The outbreak, which later became known as legionnaires' disease, was caused by a new pleomorphic, faintly staining gram-negative bacillus, L. pneumophila, which was isolated at the Center for Disease Control from lung tissues of legionnaires who died. Risk assessment for this disease forms the basis for the institution of control measures. Detection and quantification of Legionella spp. in the environment, in particular in the hospital water distribution system is one of the cornerstones of risk assessment. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art regarding these aspects and points out important areas which require further study. The environmental surveillance revealed that the centralized hot water distribution system of the hospital was colonized with Legionella. Methods of prevention of the organisms for eradication involved in hospital water systems.

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