Association of Natural Waterways and Legionella pneumophila Infection in Eastern Wisconsin: A Case-Control Study

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Kayla Heslin¹  Dennis J. Baumgardner¹  Jessica J. F. Kram²  Caroline P. Toberna³  Hannah M. William³ 

[1] Center for Urban Population Health, Milwaukee, WI;University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI;Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee, WI;

关键词: legionella;    pneumonia;    bacteria;    fresh water;    waterways;    legionnaire’s disease;    environment;   

DOI  :  10.17294/2330-0698.1872

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Preliminary research has suggested possible associations between natural waterways and Legionella infection, and we previously explored these associations in eastern Wisconsin using positive L. pneumophila serogroup 1 urine antigen tests (LUAT) as diagnostic. This case-control study was a secondary analysis of home address data from patients who underwent LUAT at a single eastern Wisconsin health system from 2013 to 2017. Only zip codes within the health system’s catchment area that registered ≥ 3 positive cases and ≥ 50 completed tests, as well as geographically adjacent zip codes with ≥ 2 positive cases and ≥ 50 tests, were included. A 1:3 ratio of cases to randomly selected controls was used. Home addresses were geocoded and mapped using ArcGIS software (Esri); nearest waterway and distance to home was identified. Distance to nearest waterway according to ArcGIS was verified/corrected using Google Maps incognito. Distances were analyzed using chi-squared and 2-sample t-tests. Overall, mean distance to nearest waterway did not differ between cases (2958 ± 2049 ft) and controls (2856 ± 2018 ft; P = 0.701). However, in a subset of nonurban zip codes, cases were closer to nearest waterway than controls (1165 ± 905 ft vs 2113 ± 1710 ft; P = 0.019). No association was found between cases and type of waterway. Further research is needed to investigate associations and differences between natural and built environmental water sources in relation to legionellosis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown