Legionella Risks in Birthing Pools
In 2014 there were two reported cases of deaths of new born babies associated with birthing pools. One in USA and the other in the United Kingdom, reported in this blog. There may have been other cases, but no compiled data is available as far as I know. A recently published report prepared by the Texas Department of State Health Services highlights some of the shortcomings in current birthing pool practice and calls for improved infection control and compliance by midwives with best practice. The Texas report states that the death of a new born baby was caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (LpSG1), by far the most common disease causing form of the Legionella bacterium. The identification of the killer strain was established using urinary antigen tests specific for this dangerous strain and PCR, a highly specialized lab based technology, which identifies DNA of the LpSG1 bacterium.
Clearly midwives supervising the birthing pool techniques need to be educated in and aware of the risks of LpSG1 developing in birthing pools. In the actual case reported a collapsible spa pool was used. It was filled with water which was kept to 37degrees Celsius – an optimal temperature to grow the bacterium – and although no traces of LpSG1 were found in the water supplies used to fill the pool. There is no doubt that the deadly bacterium could have been present in the internal pipework of the spa pool, and this should have been checked. Tragically LpSG1 was present, causing a range of pneumonia like symptoms and complications, which could not be controlled and eventually caused death on day 19 of the child’s illness.
While there is no doubt that better management and disinfection of the water system might have eliminated some of the risks, a primary component of control is to know the risks. To protect against those risks becoming tragically fatal simple on site checks for the dangerous LpSG1 strain would have enabled immediate preventative action to be taken.
Find Out More About Legionella Risks and Common Causes of Legionnaires' Disease
