What is Legionnaires' Disease?

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 28 Dec 2004 - 14:00 PDT

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Legionnaires' disease is an uncommon form of pneumonia that may have serious consequences for some people, especially people in the older age groups.

People become infected when they breathe in air that contains legionella bacteria which have been dispersed into the air in very fine droplets of water known as aerosols. If the bacteria get inhaled into the lungs they can cause infection.

The bacteria live naturally in environmental water sources but if they get into water systems in buildings they can cause a risk to humans through air conditioning systems or through contaminated water systems used for showers etc.

Control and prevention of the disease is through treatment of the source of infection ie the contaminated water systems.

Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease

Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease include fever, chills, and a cough that may or may not produce sputum. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and confusion. This list of symptoms, however, does not readily distinguish Legionnaires' disease from other types of pneumonia. Legionnaires' disease is confirmed by laboratory tests that detect the presence of the bacterium, Legionella pnuemophila, or the presence of other bacteria in the family Legionellaceae. It is the most often treated with the antibiotic drug Erythromycin.

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EWGLI International Legionella Surveillance Scheme