Four confirmed cases of legionnaires’ disease among newborns this year — the first in a decade — were caused by water contamination, with experts urging healthcare facilities to regularly clean and disinfect water tanks, pipes, faucets and drinking machines to prevent an outbreak.
The cases were the first time the nation had seen infections cased by the Legionella bacteria in infants in more than a decade, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
The infections were reported between February and last month, with the infants experiencing fever, shortness of breath and loss of appetite within six to 10 days of birth, he said.
Photo: CNA
Water and environment samples taken from the infant care centers tested positive for Legionella bacteria, he said.
These included bottle-washing areas and pipelines for drinking machines and faucets, he added.
Four other infants who had stayed at the facilities were tracked down, but they did not exhibit symptoms of Legionella infection, he added.
The facilities have since replaced all machines and cleaned their pipelines and environment, he said.
As of Wednesday, a total of 334 cases of legionnaires’ disease had been confirmed this year, of which 326 were local and eight were imported, CDC statistics showed.
Among the local cases, 75 percent, or 243, were men, while 92 percent, or 299, were at least 50 years old, the data showed.
Tri-Service General Hospital doctor Chang Feng-yi (張峰義) said that Legionella are commonly found in natural or artificial water sources, adding that the bacteria does not have a record of spreading from person to person.
However, people who are older, heavy smokers, have chronic illnesses and have weak immune systems are at a higher risk of contracting legionnaires’ disease, Chang said.
The disease is less commonly seen in infants, Chang said, adding that most cases are due to an infant being born in water or having come into contact with contaminated water.
As the symptoms of legionnaires’ disease are similar to pneumonia, Chang advised doctors to consider it as a possible cause when treating infants who have pneumonia-like symptoms.
Chang also said that drinking water should be boiled, and when making infant formula, all containers should be disinfected.
Formula should be made with water that has been boiled and left to cool, but should not be below 70°C, he said.
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