A fatality resulting from a case of legionnaires' disease on hotel premises

Abstract A fatal case of legionnaires' disease in a British tourist was contracted in a hotel on a Greek island. The air-conditioning system and the hot water system were checked for Legionella pneumophila. L.pneumophila ser 1 was investigated at two points, from a mixing valve and from a hot water tap at concentrations of 2000 and 3000 cfu/L respectively. Water temperature and abscence of free residual chlorine in the water are thought to be the factors that promoted the L.pneumophila proliferation in the water piping. Age and bad physical condition of the victim were probably of significance.