Legionella Bacteria - Legionnaires' Disease

The pathogenic bacteria Legionella is responsible for two types of pneumonia and a mild flu-like illness. Infection with Legionella bacteria causes legionellosis or legionella pneumonia. This article will review the pathogenesis and symptoms of Legionnaires' disease.

Legionella Bacteria - Legionnaires' Disease

Treatment

Legionella infection is usually contracted through the inhalation of contaminated water droplets, such as those sprayed by air-conditioning systems and shower heads. 

Symptoms of legionnaires' disease include fever, chills, and muscle aches. Doctors use samples to diagnose the illness and administer fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Click the link: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/fluoroquinolones-safety-risks#:~:text=Fluoroquinolones%20are%20a%20class%20of,%2C%20and%20ofloxacin%20(Floxin) for more information about this type of medication. Legionella bacteria are naturally occurring in soil and can enter a building's plumbing system. This is why outbreaks typically start in a building's water supply.

Legionella bacteria are gram-negative rod bacteria that can cause illness through the air, drinking water, and skin. The bacteria reproduce intracellularly, living within macrophages which protect them during replication. The infection may also lead to diarrhea and abdominal pain. If Legionella has caused an infection, the patient should seek treatment immediately.

Despite the high prevalence of Legionnaires’ disease, most cases are treatable. Antibiotics containing penicillin G have shown efficacy in the treatment of Legionnaires’ disease. However, antibiotics that work on other bacteria may not be effective in treating Legionnaires’ disease. 

The use of levofloxacin for this infection is limited and the risks of drug resistance are high. Rifampin is a widely used antibiotic for the treatment of Legionnaires’ disease infection, as it inhibits the production of RNA polymerase.

The first outbreak of Legionnaires' disease was recognized in early 1977. In addition to contaminated air conditioning units, it can also be transmitted by aspiration. The incubation time of the disease is 2 to 10 days.

Although legionella bacteria are common in natural water systems, there are usually no known cases of Legionnaires‘ disease in households with good water turnover. Legionella infections are more likely to occur in purpose-built systems, such as hospitals and offices, where water is heated and maintained at an elevated temperature. Despite this, many homes do not have these conditions. This is because Legionella bacteria can spread from one area to another, like a shower or a tap.

Prevention

The best way to avoid the risk of Legionnaires’ disease is to implement a water management program. This program is designed for the assessment of water risks and includes testing and monitoring of H2O quality. H2O management programs should be based on a set of guidelines for an H2O management company.

These guidelines include temperature control, disinfectant levels, visual inspections, and environmental testing for pathogens. A recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in a hospital at the University of Virginia led the hospital to install UV H2O treatment equipment on the main H2O supply. UV light destroys the Legionnaires’ disease microbe, preventing the spread of the bacteria to other parts of the building.

If there are more cases of Legionnaires’ disease than ever before, healthcare facilities and hospitals must take extra precautions. Ice machines are known to harbor bacteria. General practitioners and community health services must be particularly vigilant and implement the necessary preventive measures. 

WHO provides technical resources on Legionnaires’ disease management and control and advises the Member States when specific queries are raised. Click here for more information. Further, CDC and other agencies provide free technical resources for public health and industry. Moreover, a comprehensive research program will help prevent and control Legionnaires’ disease.

Personal humidifiers can also be a possible source of Legionnaires’ disease. These units are free-standing and often contain an H2O tank that can become contaminated. Cleaning daily is necessary to keep the H2O quality acceptable. Most personal humidifiers are not properly maintained. An H2O management plan should include preventive maintenance measures to ensure that all H2O-related issues are dealt with.

In addition to disinfecting H2O, you should ensure that the hot H2O is at a safe temperature. You should also drain commercial cooling towers when not in use and clean them regularly. The temperature of hot H2O faucets and tanks should remain between 140 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Use scald-protection measures for hot H2O tanks and faucets. If your facility has hot tubs or whirlpool baths, be sure to clean them regularly and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.