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expert reaction to case of Legionnaires’ disease in a baby born in a specific type of birthing pool

Public Health England reported a case of Legionnaires’ disease in a baby that had been born in a specific type of home birthing pool, with built-in heaters and recirculation pumps, potentially filled up to two weeks in advance of the birth. PHE and NHS England have temporarily advised against this one type of birthing pool.

 

Prof Nigel Brown, President, Society for General Microbiology, said:

“Legionnaires’ disease is often caused by inhaling water droplets containing the bacterium Legionella, which can reproduce in warm water systems. It is a particularly serious illness in the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, including young infants. Legionella is common in the environment and one of the reasons why air conditioning systems have to be regularly serviced to remove bacterial build-up.”

 
Prof Mark Fielder, Professor in Medical Microbiology, Kingston University, said:

“The recent report of a baby being treated in intensive care following the diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is an unfortunate and very rare occurrence. The case has been reported by Public Health England they have already advised against a specific type of birthing pool with built in heaters and recirculation pumps. The specific type of pool implicated can be filled in advance of labour and the temperature is maintained by the heater and pump. Birthing pools that are filled from domestic hot water systems at the time of labour do not appear to possess the same risk factors and are not included under the current exclusion.

“This single case does represent a rare occurrence, indeed this is the first case reported in England from a birthing pool (there were two other cases reported internationally in past years, one in Italy in 1999). The infection is caused by a bacterium called Legionella pneumophilia which can be found commonly in water sources and at low levels it is harmless. The organism can be controlled effectively if the water is cooled to below 20˚C or heated to above 60˚C. This type of treatment coupled with general good hygiene in terms of keeping water free of impurities will help to keep the organism under control.”

 
 
Declared interests
None declared

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