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A Deadly Disease That Happent To Be Living In Your Water Supply

30th March, 2011 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Legionnaires’ disease, the worst kind of Legionellosis, is a kind of pneumonia that is caused by aspiration or inhalation of bacteria that are part of the family Legionellaceae. This family includes forty eight species and seventy serogroups. Legionellosis is most commonly linked to exposure to Legionella pneumophila, still, various species might cause this disease too. The name Legionella pneumophila happened to be made up following the original breakout of the disease at a huge convention in Philadelphia, PA in 1976. L. pneumophila has a ton of smaller groups called serotypes. L. pneumophila serotype 6 & 1 are normally associated with Legionnaires disease.

Legionella happen to be mostly living in wet locations, this is why legionella testing happen to be critical, and a couple kinds have been seen in dirt. These critters are found in a huge spread of environmental types and are relatively resistant to minimal, low oxygen levels, and the normal chlorination methods for drinking water. Temps above 104° F promote rapid multiplication of the bacteria. The bacteria are constantly found in the biofilm that forms in water areas, cooling towers and potable water systems.

The risk profiles for Legionellosis in descending order of greatness happen to be heavy smoking, chronic lung disease, the elderly, and people with a weak immune system. An up to date study has found 76 instances of pediatric Legionellosis in children less than one year old or children with previous medical conditions such as malignancy or weak immune systems. Legionellosis is not contagious and there isn’t any evidence that the disease might be transmitted from person to person contact. Exposure must be through aspiration or inhalation of contaminated, aerosolized water. Because of this, it is critically important to get legionella control services.

The US Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, recommends constant monitoring for Legionella in all bone marrow and organ transplant hospitals across the nation. Routine monitoring in hospitals is suggested or mandatory in many states. Canada has guidelines for monitoring hospitals. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, or ASHRAE, recommends routine monitoring of building water supply systems.