We report an extensive investigation into a cluster of five confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Sydney’s Inner West in May 2016. The patients were aged 62–89 years, four were men, all were ex-smokers, and four had significant comorbidities, such as immunosuppression. Hospitalisations lasted a median of 6 days and one patient died. All patients tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 urinary antigens; however, L. pneumophila was isolated by culture in only one patient.
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We thank the staff at Burwood, City of Canada Bay and Strathfield Councils, Health Protection NSW and the NSW Forensic and Analytical Science Service for their extensive assistance in this investigation.
No relevant disclosures.