A new alert has been issued to the relevant government agencies following the detection of a case of Legionnaires' disease in a newborn at a private clinic in Nicosia.
What exactly is Legionnaires’ disease? It is an acute bacterial infection of the respiratory tract caused by bacteria of the genus Legionella. There are 50 different species of Legionella, 28 of which have been associated with human disease, with Legionella pneumophila being the most common species. There are 18 serogroups, with serogroups 1 and 6 being the most common.
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More specifically, there are two distinct clinical presentations of the disease:
- Pontiac fever, which is a self-limiting illness resembling the flu, and
- Legionnaires’ disease, which manifests primarily as pneumonia and is potentially fatal in 5–30% of cases.
Legionella is a bacterium widely found in nature, in water and soil. It easily colonizes all water supply systems, particularly hot and cold water supply networks, storage tanks, reservoirs, and pipes with little or no water flow.
How It Spreads
Transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of microscopic water droplets containing the bacterium that are dispersed into the air, for example, when taking a shower.
It is important to note, however, that it is not transmitted from person to person.
Water temperature is a key factor in the growth of Legionella, with a range of 20 to 45 degrees Celsius considered favorable for its proliferation.
Potential sources of Legionella growth include facilities with water storage and distribution systems, such as hospitals, clinics, hotels, hostels, schools, universities, charitable institutions, and nursing homes.
Conditions that favor the growth of the bacterium include stagnant water, restricted flow in pipes, as well as the accumulation of sediment, biofilms, and salts on the internal surfaces of water supply systems.
High-risk groups include people over 50, smokers, those undergoing treatment with corticosteroids, those with chronic lung diseases, diabetes mellitus, neoplastic diseases, kidney failure, organ transplant recipients, and, in general, individuals with weakened and vulnerable immune systems.
Possible Sources of Infection
- Hot and cold water supply systems (showers)
- Cooling towers in air conditioning systems
- Water storage tanks
- Hot springs.
- Thermal baths
- Hydromassage
- Fountains
- Air humidifiers and respiratory devices that operate using tap water.
