Source: https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/, May 19, 2023
By: Tori Whitacre Martonicz

According to public health officials, 2 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been traced back to an L.A. Fitness facility in Niles, Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) began investigating the gym on May 5. That same day, they announced that L.A. Fitness closed its pool, spa, showers, and steam room.

On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, testing by the county and state confirmed that legionella pneumophila S2-14, a gram-negative bacterium that causes legionellosis, including a pneumonia-type illness called Legionnaires’ disease, was detected in samples collected from the facility’s hot tub. It may be weeks before affected areas can be reopened to members because they will remain closed until disinfecting is completed and testing confirms that legionella is no longer detected, IDPH said. Read more.