Brief history of legionellosis

Origin.

It was 1976, a conference of the American Legion is held in a Philadelphia hotel. 182 wizards suffer atypical pneumonia and died 34. It is unknown what caused the SARS.

In January 1977 later identified the causative agent, referred to Legionella pneumophila and which is associated with previously produced shoots.

A bacterium, two diseases.

It is discovered that the same bacterium also causes two diseases, one Pontiac fever, much more benign and refers relatively easily in most cases.

The other way is legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease, manifesting itself in an atypical pneumonia, high fever, and impact on different organs (liver, kidney, digestive and nervous system). A significant proportion of cases, between 5% and 30% are fatal, even today, especially if treatment is delayed antibiotic.

How is the disease transmitted?

The only route of transmission of the disease is by inhalation of contaminated aerosols (tiny water droplets often microscopic, which remain suspended in the air).

The bacteria live in all types of water “sweet” while only dangerous when it reaches high concentrations or infective. These concentrations are achieved when the bacteria has a ideal environmental conditions, which is determining the temperature (optimum growth temperature is 37 ° C while it grows well between 20 and 45 ° C), the stagnation and the presence of nutrients (such as oxide iron).

Once these concentrations reached dangerous when bacteria conveys in the water droplets that form in the showers, hot tubs, ornamental fountains, cooling towers, etc., there is a risk.

Why is prevention important in catering?

Because an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, given its high mortality, is of the worst health complications related directly to hotel establishment that you can have, especially considering that, with training facilities and adequate maintenance, you can avoid .

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