摘要：This paper describes and analyses some aspects of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Victoria, commencing inlate October 1998. In all, 18 cases caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 were notified within 10 daysmaking this the largest outbreak in Victoria reported to that date. All cases had epidemiological links to anindustrial estate in a northern Melbourne suburb. Extensive environmental sampling revealed Legionella bacteriain five cooling towers. Molecular sub-typing techniques were used to compare clinical and environmental isolates.Isolates from one tower had a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern that was indistinguishable from clinicalisolates from eight cases. Control of outbreaks caused by Legionella bacteria requires rapid, coordinated responsesto linked cases of disease. The Legionella urinary antigen test facilitated a rapid public health response, and cultureand molecular sub-typing of clinical specimens assisted in developing epidemiological links
关键词：legionellosis; surveillance; urinary antigen; cooling towers; environmental health
