What is Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is due to a bacterium known as Legionella, which was first discovered in 1976. The disease was first reported after an outbreak at an American Legion convention. Patients who present with symptoms of pneumonia are often tested to determine if the illness is in fact Legionnaires'.

Every year in the United States the CDC reports anywhere from 8,000 to 18,000 cases of people being hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease. That being said, there are also a high number of cases that are not properly diagnosed or reported, so these figures are actually much higher.

This disease is considered to be a notifiable disease in which health districts can pinpoint outbreaks by means of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Read more >>

What Happened in Vegas? Legionnaires' Disease

Anyone who vacations in Las Vegas knows something about taking chances. One of the biggest appeals of visiting Vegas is the potential for anything to happen. But, while everyone hopes lady luck smiles on them, realistically the most you\'ll probably return home with is a lighter bank account and a need for sleep. Odds are good, however, that no one expects their vacation souvenir to be a potentially deadly respiratory illness. Yet, recently the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada was linked to six cases of Legionnaires\' disease among guests visiting the resort.

Legionnaires\' disease is a severe type of pneumonia caused by the bacterium legionella. What sets this infectious disease apart is that rather than being spread via person-to-person contact, Legionnaires\' disease is spread through legionella-contaminated water vapor or mist. A person who breathes in this mist or vapor is at risk at developing the disease, or the lesser flu-like illness Pontiac Fever. Legionnaires\' was first identified in 1976 after a mysterious illness struck a group of American Legion members attending a conference at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over 200 people were treated for the illness, and 34 deaths were reported. Later that year, the disease and its cause were identified, as well as the realization that it was to blame for many previously misdiagnosed illnesses and deaths. Additionally, for those at the American Legion convention, the method of contamination was identified -- the hotel\'s air conditioning system. Read more >>

Legionnaires' Disease – Simple Precautions for your Holiday

With the weather hotting up, everyone\'s getting excited for summer. It\'s bikini season, time to jump in the pool, Jacuzzi or steam room, time to go on holiday. And while it\'s easy to remember to pack sunscreen to protect your skin or mosquito repellent to keep the bugs at bay, it\'s less likely you\'ll take measures to avoid a more insidious danger: Legionnaires\' Disease.

Nobody likes to hear scary stories while they\'re getting ready to hit the beach, but Legionnaires\' Disease is a very real concern. Anybody can catch it, though the elderly, youngsters and those who may be ill already can be most at risk. And getting sick is a sure-fire way to spoil a holiday. I must make it clear at this point that I\'m involved with the water hygiene industry through my company; we sell legionella control software to businesses. But what about members of the general public? We have been genuinely shocked about how little people know about the disease and how it is contracted. How can we avoid getting Legionnaires\' Disease on holiday, where health and safety practises may not be what they are in the UK? Read more >>

Infected Dental Equipment Causes Legionnaire's Death

News Sources like Medical News Today are reporting the case of an eighty two year old woman in Italy who recently died as a result of some unsafe equipment at her dental office. The woman became infected with L pneumophilia after visiting her dentist due to some equipment that was unsterile. The infection led to Legionnaire's disease, causing her death. Because of the incident experts across Italy are calling for the reform of dental practices across Italy. Experts hope the reform will implement new control measures for dental surgery in hopes of preventing similar incidents.

The woman was conscious and responsive when she was brought to the hospital, but was suffering from a fever and respiratory distress. It seemed she had no underlying illnesses at the time. Doctors quickly performed a chest radiography which showed that she had multiple lung consolidation areas. They did a urine test and immediately discovered she was infected with Legionnaire's disease, at which time the doctors immediately started her on a set of antibiotics. Unfortunately however the disease led her to a rapid and irreversible septic shock and passed away two days later. The woman's death shocked officials and led them to investigate the cause of the L pneumophilia infection, finding that the infection had come from her dentist's tainted surgical materials. Read more >>

Water Tank Cleaning & Legionnaire's Disease

Cold water storage tanks can provide the ideal breeding ground for a host of bacteria including Legionella (the bacteria responsible for Legionnaire's Disease). Typically, water tanks are positioned either above the boiler house or in the loft, which tend to be two of the warmest places in a building this can lead to the water within the tank heating up considerably. In addition, a build up of scale, rust and other contaminants provide nutrients for bacteria which, when added to the above and an over storage of water can create almost incubator type conditions for bacteria to multiply.

With regard to Legionella, although tanks do not create an aerosol themselves they do of course supply services that do, such as showers. It is therefore essential that cold water tanks are kept fresh and free from contaminants to prevent the build of bacteria and biofilm. Biofilm is a layer of bacteria / micro-organisms embedded in a protective layer attached to a surface. This can occur in cold water tanks (e.g. slime along the water line) but also along the inside of pipework. Once bacteria are contained within a biofilm / attached to a surface they change their fundamental characteristics and can become much more difficult to eradicate than free floating bacteria. Read more >>

Staying Safe From Legionnaire's

Legionnaire\'s Disease is a dangerous illness for you to contract. Water-borne, it is a bacterium known as legionella can causes all the trouble. It can be found in both hard and soft water, making the use of both susceptible to trouble. As the owner of a business, it is your job to do everything in your power to ensure that the water supply to your employees is free of this risk. If you choose not to, you leave yourself open to litigation should someone contract the illness from your establishment. 

The legionella virus causes a range of illnesses, the lesser of which are known as legionellosis. In this set you can get Pontiac fever as well as lockgoilhead fever. There are over 42 species of the bacteria that are known to cause this illness. You can contract the infection by breathing in minute drops of water that have the bacteria in it. This is not an illness that passes from one person to another. Read more >>

Purifying Water From the Legionnaire's Disease Germ

Rust, various organisms, muck, lime and other substances in water systems in cooling towers and hot water systems in hospitals supply nourishment to bacteria, fungus and algae. The Legion-Ella germ lives in the bacteria in the water systems and gets nourishment from lime and muck.

Magnetic treatment of the water changes the shape and size of the lime crystals. This treatment decreases friction in the water and helps clear the pipes of existing lime and muck.

The AQUA SOFT NATURAL system, producer of magnetized water, reduces and even destroys the food chain the bacteria depend on, by changing the environment of the bacteria thus reducing the bacteria problem. Read more >>

Legionella Testing Kit - Don't Let Water Borne Diseases Bother You

Drinking water test kit is the word of the present times in the field of water treatment. Many businesses and municipalities are frankly agreeing on the prospects of testing kits for their water supplies in order to curb the casualties arising from impure water. The infamous incidents of fatalities resulting from water contamination are not a wonder for the present generation. The arrival of newer water purification and filtration devices and solutions has alleviated the risks of consuming contaminated water to some extent. However, the presence of certain bacteria and microorganisms can be barely minimized with the filtration devices and thus pose substantial thereat to mankind. A number of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, legionellosis, leptospirosis etc. can turn any happy family into a slithering amassment of afflictions just for the absence of proper drinking water. Read more >>

Importance of Legionella Risk Assessment

Legionella is a type of bacteria associated with a serious health disorder called Legionnaires' disease. The bacterium is commonly present in water. It is most active when the temperature of the water is between 20 and 45-degree Celsius and there is sufficient nutrient to support growth and multiplication. 

Legionella risk assessment is a prerequisite for reducing the threat of Legionnaires' disease following use of water in homes and workplaces. You may contract the fatal bacterial infection by inhaling steam or droplets of water containing legionella bacteria in aquatic facilities, hot water baths, hydrotherapy systems, hot and cold water systems, wet air-conditioning units and atomizers. Read more >>

Legionella Risk Assessment

The Legionnaires disease is a potentially deadly form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, smoking and more. It was named like that after a severe outbreak of pneumonia that hit a meeting of the American Legion in the seventies.

It is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria that can be found naturally in environmental water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, usually in low numbers. As they are commonly found in environmental sources they may also be found in purpose built water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers and whirlpool spas. As a matter of fact, many other species of the organism and mild illnesses other than pneumonia may be caused by those organisms. Thirty four other species have actually been identified. Read more >>

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Legionnaires' Disease - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as legionella. Common symptoms include high fever, chills, body pain, cough, hemoptysis, breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion and other mental illnesses. This disease may rarely cause infections in wounds and in other parts of the body including the heart. Old age; a history of smoking; the presence of chronic disorders like lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease or cancer; a weakened immune system; and having a job related to air conditioning systems-maintenance, are risk factors for this condition. Read more >>

Legionnaires Warning

Government health experts have revealed this week that motorists risk catching legionnaires disease from stagnant water in their windscreen washer bottles. As many as twenty percent of cases of the disease in the UK have been linked to the water that drivers use to clean their car windows, and professional drivers are more at risk, being five times more likely to become infected with the bug. The bacteria thrive in warm, stagnant water and can cause a potentially fatal lung infection, in worst cases. All drivers are now being urged to add screen wash to the water stored in their vehicles, as this has an antibacterial property and will prevent the possible build up of the bug.

Traces of the legionella bacteria, which can cause legionnaires disease, were found on one in five cars that did not have screen wash. In vehicles of rivers who used screen wash, there were no traces of the bug found to be present. People most at risk are those driving vans, those who work in industrial areas or people who often drive with their car window down. Read more >>