Legionnaire’s Ailment is induced by a bacterium referred to as legionella. It is a extended, rod-shaped bacteria that infects the moist surroundings of the lungs. This infection is comparable to respiratory infections this kind of as bacterial pneumonia and is difficult to distinguish with no other tests. Due to the fact of this, Legionnaire’s ailment mimics many signs and symptoms that are related to these of other pneumonia triggering bacteria. Even more diagnostic testing is needed to verify a Legionella infection.
The legionella bacteria are not spread from 1 particular person to one more but only from the direct water supply to a individual. Once a person is exposed to the Legionella bacteria, the outcome may be one particular of the following. If you are a healthier person, chances are you have minor threat of turning out to be contaminated with the bacteria or you might come down with a milder edition of the sickness recognized as pontiac fever. Nonetheless, your risk of infection increases if you are in excess of the age of 50 many years outdated, have chronic lung disease this kind of as emphysema or COPD, or if an personal has a suppressed or weak immune method.
Each and every yr, about eight thousand to eighteen thousand individuals are contaminated with Legionella. Since the signs are so equivalent to pneumonia, there could be some beneath-reporting of Legionellosis, so the amount of situations annually may be greater than reported. Confirmatory laboratory tests must be done to establish if a single has pneumonia-like signs and signs and symptoms. Laboratory exams that confirm legionella infection could contain a blood check to check out for legionella antibodies, a culture of one’s sputum (respiratory phlegm), cupping chinese medicine or a urine antigen test (which is the most frequent test carried out). Generally, the peak of the Legionairre’s ailment season is during the warmer months of the year, beginning in summertime and operating right up until late fall.
Legionnaire’s condition had been a prolonged time just before it was identified, but 1 notable outbreak in 1976 gave it new publicity. In Pennsylvania during July of 1976 at an American Legion conference, numerous of the Legions in attendance fell unwell with a severe form of pneumonia. It was later found that the bacterium legionella was the culprit. It was even more understood that the bacteria spread by way of the cooling system of the Bellevue-Stratford hotel, a Philadelphia landmark. This was the very first recorded outbreak of Legionnaire’s ailment. Given that then, reporting and surveillance of the illness has continued. There have been several other outbreaks detected given that monitoring began.
Outbreaks of Legionnaire’s condition generally take place in locations with complex cooling or water methods such as cruise ships, hotels, or even hospitals. Hospitals are presently total of immunocompromised individuals producing the chance of an outbreak higher than in other big amenities with large water/cooling programs, particularly if one particular or two people are currently admitted with the infection. The infection could probably be propigated by way of the air-conditioning method if it is not monitored closely by the upkeep personnel. Other times, Outbreaks have occurred in resort regions and on cruise ships. Legionnaire’s illness can spread by means of the air-conditioning systems, water programs employed for showers and drinking water, as nicely as hot tubs in the hotel, cruise ship, or any enclosed and densely populated environment. Just as recently as April 2013, there was a reported outbreak of legionnaire’s ailment where all situations have been linked to the Melbourne Airport in Australia.
The prevention of outbreaks commences with mindful servicing of large water and cooling methods. Guidleines have been set forth by The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for those managing the maintenance of huge water technique. Smaller sized cooling techniques are not recognized to harbor the bacteria, such as these in properties or vehicles. Retaining your home scorching tub cleaned and at the appropriate pH and chemical amounts will make certain that no legionella or other pneumonia leading to bacteria will grow.