TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimation of minimum infection rates with Legionella pneumophila in an exposed population
AU - Boshuizen, Hendriek C.
AU - Nagelkerke, N. J.D.
AU - Den Boer, J. W.
AU - de Melker, H.
AU - Schellekens, J. F.P.
AU - Peeters, M. F.
AU - van Vliet, H.
AU - Conyn-Van Spaendonck, M. A.E.
PY - 2006/6
Y1 - 2006/6
N2 - The distribution of antibody levels to Legionella (L.) pneumophila (serotypes 1-7) was compared between subjects who worked near the source of a large outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (n=668) and a population sample of comparable age (n=480). In a previous analysis of these data, it was estimated that 80% of those working near the source were infected with L. pneumophila. However, the estimation procedure implicitly assumes that the probability of infection does not depend on the antibody level of a person before exposure. This is questionable, as antibodies could protect against infection. We have now estimated the minimum value consistent with the data on the number of infected persons. We observed that a minimum of 40% [95% confidence interval (CI) 32-48] of those working near the source and 13% (95% CI 8-18) of those working further away were infected with L. pneumophila. Implications of these findings for design options in future research are discussed.
AB - The distribution of antibody levels to Legionella (L.) pneumophila (serotypes 1-7) was compared between subjects who worked near the source of a large outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (n=668) and a population sample of comparable age (n=480). In a previous analysis of these data, it was estimated that 80% of those working near the source were infected with L. pneumophila. However, the estimation procedure implicitly assumes that the probability of infection does not depend on the antibody level of a person before exposure. This is questionable, as antibodies could protect against infection. We have now estimated the minimum value consistent with the data on the number of infected persons. We observed that a minimum of 40% [95% confidence interval (CI) 32-48] of those working near the source and 13% (95% CI 8-18) of those working further away were infected with L. pneumophila. Implications of these findings for design options in future research are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1017/S0950268805005315
DO - 10.1017/S0950268805005315
M3 - Article
C2 - 16238821
AN - SCOPUS:33646160230
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 134
SP - 579
EP - 584
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
IS - 3
ER -