Legionellosis

Legionellosis: an acute infectious disease caused by Legionella

Legionellosis is a rare but serious infectious disease caused by Legionella bacteria. This disease can affect various organs and systems, but most often it affects the lungs, which leads to severe complications and can even lead to death.

Etiology and pathogenesis

Legionella is a gram-negative bacteria that can persist for a long time in the external environment, especially in water. Human infection occurs aerogenously by inhaling tiny droplets of infected water, which can appear when using showers, air conditioner sprayers and other similar devices.

Bacteria entering the lungs cause acute inflammation, which can lead to the development of pneumonia. In addition, Legionella can affect the central nervous system and digestive organs.

The disease is practically not transmitted from person to person, and infection occurs only through inhalation of infected water. Legionella is highly sensitive to erythromycin, lovomycetin, ampicillin, insensitive to tetracycline and completely insensitive to penicillin and cephalosporins.

Risk factors

Legionnaires' disease can affect people of all ages, but middle-aged and elderly people are most often affected. In addition, smoking, chronic renal failure, malignancy and immunosuppression may contribute to the development of the disease.

Symptoms and course

The incubation period for Legionnaires' disease can range from 2 to 10 days, but it usually lasts about 5-7 days. The disease begins acutely, with fever and chills. General weakness, fatigue, and muscle pain quickly increase.

From the first days, a painful cough and stabbing pain in the chest appear. Signs of pneumonia are revealed, the respiratory rate reaches 30-40 per minute. There may be vomiting and loose stools. The central nervous system is affected (dizziness, delirium, disturbances of consciousness). Tachycardia is noted, blood pressure is reduced. Hemorrhagic syndrome may develop.

In severe cases, respiratory and cardiovascular failure rapidly increases, and infectious toxic shock develops. Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis of legionellosis is carried out on the basis of clinical manifestations of the disease, laboratory test results and data from instrumental research methods. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to isolate Legionella from the patient's biological material, for example, sputum.

Treatment of legionellosis is carried out in a hospital setting and begins with the prescription of antibiotics that are effective against legionella. In severe cases, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, fluid therapy, and other treatments may be required.

Prevention

Prevention of legionellosis is based on preventing contamination of water and equipment associated with its use. To do this, it is necessary to follow hygiene rules, regularly disinfect water supply systems and air conditioners, and also use only high-quality water and monitor its quality.

In addition, it is important to avoid smoking, maintain immunity, and promptly treat diseases that may increase the risk of developing Legionnaires' disease, such as chronic renal failure and malignancies.