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What are Legionella?
Legionella are thin pale-staining gram-negative bacilli that are nutritionally fastidious requiring cysteine for growth on laboratory media. The natural habitats of Legionella species include waters worldwide and are associated almost exclusively with surface and potable waters or very moist environments. Legionella colonization can occur in faucets, shower heads, plumbing fixtures, hot water systems, whirlpool spas and cooling towers.
Legionella pneumophila is the most common species isolated from infected individuals. The most frequent manifestation of Legionella infection is Legionnaire's Disease. This is a potentially fatal pneumonia caused by the inhalation of water aerosols containing Legionella bacteria into the lungs. Legionella bacteria are also responsible for an epidemic non-pneumonic illness called Pontiac Fever. Pontiac Fever is an infection characterized by high attack rates with fever and flu-like symptoms. It is a self-limiting illness with the absence of pulmonary disease on chest x-rays.
Legionella is not contagious and transmission to humans occurs by inhalation of Legionella organisms from contaminated water aerosols. It is generally agreed that monitoring of water systems is warranted in order to identify the source of an outbreak, evaluate biocides or to monitor areas where immunocompromised individuals are present (hospitals). When monitoring is not routinely performed, aggressive maintenance and disinfection procedures should be implemented. Institutions that should have prevention and monitoring programs include hospitals, health care facilities, industrial plants, hotels, schools and retirement communities.
Legionnaires' Disease is an ever present threat. Building owners and managers are faced with legal and financial liabilities. Routine monitoring could be useful in establishing protocols should legal complications occur.
See testing protocols for the collection and submission of samples for Legionella analysis.
Learn the Facts about Legionella spp.
Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection (pneumonia) caused by a bacterium called Legionella.
The name Legionella pneumophila was derived from the original outbreak at the 1976 American Legion Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Of more than 60 Legionella species, Legionella pneumophila is the most common agent of Legionnaires' disease and is associated with over 90% of the reported cases in the United States.
A person contracts Legionnaires' by inhalation of airborne water droplets containing legionellae.
Some investigators
believe the disease may be acquired by drinking legionellae
contaminated water and aspirating the bacteria from the upper
respiratory tract into the lung.
There are estimated to be 8,000 to 18,000 cases of Legionella pneumophila in the United States each year.
An abrupt increase
in the incidence of Legionnaires' disease has been reported since 2003;
especially in the Northeastern United States.
Any water source that becomes aerosolized is a potential source for the transmission of Legionella.
Risk factors for Legionnaires' disease include old age, smoking, male gender, and underlying diseases.
The most common source for Legionella bacteria are cooling towers, hot water systems, decorative fountains, whirlpool spas, freshwater ponds, lakes and streams.
Need a Chain of Custody or Would You Like to View Our Sample Legionella Report?
U.S. Micro-Solutions Legionella spp. reports are in easy to read format giving you all the information you need to determine the source of Legionella contamination. Click here to view a sample Legionella report.
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