Legionnaires' Disease Confirmed At Bolingbrook Nursing Home

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The Will County Health Department and Illinois Department of Publichealth are investigating a case of Legionnaires' disease at a senior facility in Bolingbrook. Will County health officials said a "health care-associated case" of the illness, which is a potentially fatal type of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria.

The illness was confirmed at Bolingbrook's Meadowbrook Manor, 431 Remington Boulevard.

No locations outside Meadowbrook Manor have been identified have been identified as potential sources of the illness, the health department said.

Will County and state health officials are working with Meadowbrook Manor to collect information and further investigate any potential cases, according to a press release issued Thursday.

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"Meadowbrook Manor has been taking a proactive approach to follow IDPH policies and requests that are made when any facility has a health care-associated Legionnaire’s disease case," the Will County Health Department said. "These initiatives taken have included investigative and hygienic steps to reduce the risk of possible exposures, and notifying all residents and their families of the situation."

The Illinois Department of Public Health recommended the facility conduct surveillance to identify other potential cases, and to ensure appropriate testing and clinical management of residents. IDPH has also recommended that the facility review its water management plan, and take necessary steps to reduce exposure to aerosolized water, which could include restricting water use, installing point of use filters, flushing water through pipes and fixtures, and implementing other actions.

Meadowbrook issued a statement via the health department Thursday afternoon, saying:

"In response to recent reports that a resident from Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook tested positive for Legionnaire’s Disease, the facility has initiated proactive water management plan safety measures to ensure that all residents, staff and visitors are not subject to any exposure or risk for the legionella bacteria. In addition, we are conducting an active investigation, as these test results do not pinpoint exactly when or where the resident was exposed to the bacteria. Nevertheless, the facility has implemented water restrictions and installed water filters in the facility. To date all water samples collected by the facility have tested negative for Legionella and more advance testing has been completed and the results are pending. Ensuring resident safety and wellbeing is our primary mission."

More than 300 cases of Legionnaires' were diagnosed in Illinois in 2018, and in 2015, an outbreak at the Quincy Veterans Home killed more than a dozen residents.

Last week, cases of Legionnaires were confirmed at two Chicago nursing homes, and in October, legionella bacteria was confirmed at a suburban high school. Fourteen cases were confirmed — two in the community and 12 at a nursing home — in Batavia.

Legionnaire’s disease cannot be passed from person to person, according to Will County Health officials. Legionella bacteria occur naturally in the environment, and water containing legionella can cause Legionnaire’s disease after being inhaled following aerosolization through cooling towers, showers, hot tubs and decorative fountains.

Legionella bacteria can become a health concern when they grow and spread in human-made water systems. Outbreaks are most commonly associated with buildings or structures that have complete water systems and substantial plumbing. This can include hotels, hospitals, long-term care facilities and cruise ships.

Most healthy people, however, do not develop Legionnaire’s disease after being exposed to Legionella bacteria.