Legionella

Symptoms

Symptoms of Legionellosis include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Lack of energy
  • Cough
  • Muscle aches
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea and/or vomiting

Transmission

Legionellosis infection is transmitted when a person breathes water droplets from the air (i.e., mist or vapor) that contain the Legionella bacteria. The bacteria are not spread from person-to-person.

The bacterium was named after an outbreak in 1976, when many people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion got sick with pneumonia (lung infection).

Treatment

Antibiotics are sometimes used for treatment of Legionnaire’s disease. Sometimes breathing therapy is needed to help people breathe easier. Pontiac fever is a self-limited illness with recovery within one week and does not benefit from antibiotic treatment.

Prevention

Improved design and routine maintenance and cleaning of cooling towers and plumbing systems to limit the growth and spread of bacteria are important. Other prevention measures are to properly maintain and disinfect whirlpool tubs, hot tubs and spas, humidifiers, and decorative fountains. Clean and run them frequently to prevent growth of bacteria. Avoid inhaling water or dunking your head under water when using hot tubs and spas. Avoid using hot tubs, spas, or whirlpool tubs in public places if the water looks dirty or cloudy or if maintenance records are not maintained correctly. Only sterile water should be used in or to clean respiratory equipment (i.e., BiPAP, CPAP).

8,000 TO 18,000NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO NEED CARE IN A HOSPITAL DUE TO LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.