Legionnaires' disease is a pneumonia type infection brought on by the Gram -ve bacteria Legionella pneumophila. The disease obtained its name in July 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia transpired among a number of individuals attending a conference of the American Legion. The causative agent was later on identified as a previously unidentified bacterium, that was subsequently named Legionella.
Outbreaks of Legionnaires Diseasereceive significant media attention as the illness generally happens as single instances not linked to any recognised pattern . The death rate of Legionnaires' disease differs and has ranged from 5% to 30% during earlier outbreaks and most microbe infections come about in those who are middle-age or older. Men are statistically far more vulnerable than females and people with lowered immune response like diabetics, oncology sufferers and people who smoke are also at higher threat of contracting the illness.
Sufferers with Legionnaires' disease normally have fever, chills, and a cough, which is usually dry and non-productive. Patients may additionally complain of muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting. Chest X-rays will normally show pneumonia with bi-basal consolidation. It is tricky to distinguish Legionnaires' disease from other kinds of pneumonia by symptoms or x-ray findings alone and other assessments are required for a confirmed diagnosis.
Legionellosis infection usually happens after inhaling an aerosol (a suspension of fine water particles in the air) containing Legionella bacteria. Such particles may originate from any contaminated water source. When mechanical action breaks the surface of the water, little water droplets are formed, which evaporate quite quickly. If these droplets include bacteria, the bacteria cells stay suspended in the air, invisible to the naked eye and small enough to be inhaled into the lungs.
Potential sources of this kind of contaminated water include cooling towers used in industrial cooling water systems as well as in large central air conditioning systems, evaporative coolers, hot water systems, showers, windshield washers, whirlpool spas, architectural water features, room-air humidifiers, ice producing machines, misting equipment and similar equipment. The illness may also be transmitted from contaminated aerosols created in hot tubs if the disinfection and upkeep plan is not carried out rigorously. The illness is especially linked with hotels, water features, cruise ships and hospitals with old, inadequately maintained pipework and cooling systems.
In order to prevent the spread of Legionella micro organisms it is crucial to carry out Legionella risk assessments . This will assess the probability of a water system to harbour the bacteria and also describe how to reduce the release of the micro organism in aerosols from the system. By doing a Legionella risk assessment a Legionella control plan can be carried out to avert the spread of the sickness.
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While Legionnaire's Disease can be fatal it can be safely regulated through the application of a legionella risk assessment and continuous legionella control .
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