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The Use of Heteroduplex Analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction Products to Support the Possible Transmission of Legionella pneumophila From a Malfunctioning Automobile Air Conditioner

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Ahmet Pinar ,
Julio A. Ramirez ,
Laura L. Schindler ,
Richard D. Miller  and
James T. Summersgill
Ahmet Pinar
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
Julio A. Ramirez
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
Laura L. Schindler
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
Richard D. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
James T. Summersgill*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
*
Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Room 311, B Building, 500 South Preston Street, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292
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Abstract

Air conditioner condensates have not been previously associated with cases of Legionnaires' disease. We report the possible transmission of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from a malfunctioning automobile air conditioning system's leaking water onto the floorboard of a car driven for a long distance by the patient. Heteroduplex analysis of polymerase chain reaction products was used to help establish an epidemiologic link between the water specimen and the patient.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , March 2002 , pp. 145 - 147
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

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