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Legionellosis
(Legionnaires' disease)
What is Legionellosis?
Legionellosis is an illness caused by infection with the bacterium Legionella pneumophilia. It can cause two types of illness, Legionnaires' disease, a pneumonia-like illness; and Pontiac Fever, a febrile illness without pneumonia. Most cases of Legionnaires' disease occur as single isolated events. Outbreaks are relatively rare.
How common is Legionellosis?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 10,000 to 15,000 Americans develop Legionellosis each year. An additional unknown number are infected with Legionella bacterium and have mild symptoms or no illness at all. In New Jersey approximately 40 cases of Legionellosis are reported each year.
Who gets Legionellosis?
The disease most often affects middle-aged and older persons. Those who smoke cigarettes, drink heavily, have chronic lung disease, or lowered immune system resistance due to underlying disease or chemotherapy are at higher risk of becoming ill with Legionellosis.
How is Legionellosis spread?
The disease is spread through the air from a soil or water source contaminated with Legionella bacteria, such as cooling towers and showers. Person to person spread has never been documented.
What are the symptoms of Legionellosis?
The usual symptoms of Legionellosis are fever, chills and a cough which may be dry or productive. Sometimes muscle pain, headache and diarrhea are present. A chest X-ray often shows pneumonia.
How soon do symptoms occur?
The incubation period for Legionellosis ranges from two to 10 days, but is usually five to six days.
How is Legionellosis diagnosed?
Legionellosis is diagnosed by culturing the Legionella bacteria out of the sputum, or by specific blood or urine tests.
What is the treatment for Legionellosis?
Legionellosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
Where are Legionella found?
Legionella bacteria are widely distributed in the environment. They can be found in creeks, ponds, hot and cold water taps, hot water tanks, air conditioning cooling towers and soil.
What can be done to prevent Legionellosis?
Improved design and maintenance of cooling towers, plumbing systems, and heating and cooling ventilation systems is the foundation of Legionellosis prevention. Properly designed and maintained systems limit the opportunity for growth of Legionella organisms.
More on Legionellosis
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