Symptoms
Legionellosis manifests itself in the following symptoms:
- Cough, shortness of breath
- Severe pneumonia
- High fever, chills
- Muscle pain, aching limbs
- Headache
Legionellosis can lead to severe complications such as respiratory failure and death. Mortality is relatively high. Pontiac fever is a mild infection with Legionella, which lasts only about a week and runs without pneumonia (so-called legionellosis without pneumonia).
Causes
The cause of the disease is infection with Legionella, particularly with . These are gram-negative and aerobic bacteria that occur primarily in warm and stagnant water between 25°C and 45°C, for example, in water pipes, baths, fountains, whirlpools, and showers. Infection occurs through inhalation of fine water droplets with the air we breathe (aerosol). Person-to-person transmission, on the other hand, does not occur. The incubation period is between 2 and 10 days. Legionellosis primarily affects immunocompromised individuals and patients with lung disease. Risk groups include:
- Elderly people
- Smokers
- People with lung diseases such as COPD
- Immunocompromised people, for example, after chemotherapy or transplantation (immunosuppressants).
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made in medical treatment based on the patient’s history, clinical symptoms, a physical examination, imaging techniques and laboratory methods.
Prevention
For prevention, measures must be taken to prevent the bacteria from multiplying in the water. For example, a hot water temperature of 60°C at the boiler outlet and 55°C in the plumbing system is recommended for households.
Treatment
Antibiotics are administered for treatment. In particular, quinolones such as levofloxacin and macrolides such as azithromycin are used. For symptomatic therapy, for example, antipyretic analgesics and oxygen are available.
