Legionella Pneumonia

General Illness Information

Common Name:
Legionella Pneumonia

Medical Term:

None Specified Description: Infection of the lungs by a bacteria called Legionella Pneumophila. Named in 1976 after an epidemic affected 182 people attending the American Legion convention. Accounts for 1-8% of all pneumonias.

Causes: Infection by Legionella pneumophilia. It is spread between persons and contaminated sources. The germ is transmitted through the air, and the incubation period after exposure is 2 to 10 days.

Prevention: Have cooling and heating systems cleaned and inspected regularly. Do not smoke. Do not abuse alcohol.

Signs & Symptoms

	General malaise.
	Headache.
	Chills and fever up to 105 degrees F.
	Muscle aches.
	Cough without sputum that progresses to one with gray or blood-streaked sputum.
	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite.
	Altered mental status with confusion lethargy, or delirium
	Weight loss.

Risk Factors

	Chronic, debilitating illness including diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney failure or emphysema.
	HIV infection.
	Use of immuno-suppressive drugs, including cortisone and anticancer drugs, and in patients who have undergone organ transplantation.
	Smoking.
	Excess alcohol consumption.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnostic tests may include laboratory blood studies, X-Rays and culture of sputum, and bronchoscopy.
General Measures:
	Treatment is with antibiotics and supportive care.
	Hospitalization for intensive care and oxygen in severe cases
	The following apply to mild cases or to care after hospitalization:
	Use of cool-mist, ultrasonic humidifier to increase air moisture and thin lung secretions so they can be coughed up more easily. Clean humidifier daily.
	Use warm compresses or a heating pad on the chest to relieve chest pain.
	Practice deep-breathing exercises as often as your strength allows.

Medications:
	Antibiotics for over three weeks course. Be sure to finish all prescribed medication. Intravenous antibiotics may be given at the beginning.
	If the cough is painful and doesn't produce sputum, your doctor may advise you to use non-prescription medicine to suppress it. In general if the cough produces sputum, don't use cough suppressants.
	You may take aspirin or acetaminophen to reduce fever.

Activity:

Rest in bed until completely well. Allow 2 to 4 weeks for recovery.

Diet:
	No special diet. Maintain adequate fluid intake by drinking 6-8 glasses daily.

Possible Complications :
	Shock or delirium.
	Congestive heart failure.
	Kidney failure.
	Heart-rhythm disturbances.
	Overwhelming infection and death.

Prognosis

Usually curable with prompt diagnosis and treatment. If untreated, 15% of cases are fatal.

Other

'Nothing Specified'. http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b1.illness/b1.1.illnesses/Legionella%20Pneumonia.html

Legionnaires' Disease

Definition of Legionnaires' Disease

Legionnaires' disease is a severe bacterial infection of the respiratory tract, caused by Legionella pneumophila.

Description of Legionnaires' Disease

The disease acquired its name as a result of an outbreak of illness during the 1976 convention of the American Legion held in Philadelphia. At least 180 American Legion members attending the conference contracted a mysterious pneumonia that did not respond to conventional antibiotic treatment. Twenty nine people died. Eventually, the villain turned out to be Legionella pneumophila, a bacteria that was proliferating in the hotel's air conditioning system. Other outbreaks have since occurred in the U.S. and Europe.

Causes and Risk Factors of Legionnaires' Disease

The major environmental source of the infection is water from reservoirs and cooling units of air conditioning systems. Lakes, creeks, and areas of excavation also may harbor the bacteria. Transmission is by breathing in droplets of contaminated water. Person-to-person transmission has not been documented.

Those at risk are cigarette smokers, those with chronic lung disease, and persons receiving drugs that suppress the immune system.

Persons who have some other medical problem such as heart disease, cancer, or kidney disease are also believed to be more susceptible.

Symptoms of Legionnaires' Disease

The symptoms are similar to those of many other respiratory diseases, making it difficult to differentiate and diagnose. Symptoms may include dry coughing, high fever, chills, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest pains, headaches, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Occasionally, bloody sputum is produced. Lethargy and confusion can occur in progressive, serious cases.

Diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease

Although Legionnaires' disease is uncommon, it should be considered in anyone (particularly an elderly or chronically ill person) who has a respiratory tract infection that worsens over a period of about four days.

Legionnaires' disease usually makes its presence known within a week of infection. The disease can initially be mild and appear to be an episode of the flu.

The diagnosis is made from the history and physical examination, chest X ray, and bacterial culture or silver stain.

Treatment of Legionnaires' Disease

Treatment includes an antibiotic, usually erythromycin, azithromycin (Zithromax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), or levofloxacin (Levaquin).

Hospitalization may be required.

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/515/main.html#cont

Wabak legionnaire di Bali disiasat

BEBERAPA orang pelancong berjalan di Kuta, Bali semalam.

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DENPASAR - Pihak berkuasa Indonesia masih menyiasat laporan tentang wabak penyakit legionnaire yang merebak di pulau peranginan Bali, kata seorang pegawai semalam selepas 10 warga Australia pulang ke negara asal mereka dengan dijangkiti penyakit tersebut.

Ketua Jabatan Kesihatan Bali, Nyoman Sutedja berkata, kerajaan Australia telah memberikan maklumat mengenai kemungkinan berlakunya wabak tersebut tetapi setakat ini tiada tanda-tanda penyakit itu ditemui.

"Kami sedang menyiasat selepas menerima satu laporan daripada konsulat Indonesia. Kami tidak menerima laporan mengenai individu yang dijangkiti penyakit legionnaire daripada hospital-hospital di sini," katanya.

"Pihak kami percaya penyakit itu berpunca daripada hotel-hotel yang gagal menyediakan bekalan air bersih," tambahnya.

Jabatan Kesihatan Australia Barat memberi amaran kepada rakyat negara itu yang melawat Bali baru-baru ini supaya berwaspada mengenai simptom penyakit legionnaire yang boleh membawa maut jika tidak dirawat segera.

Simpton penyakit legionnaire menyerupai selesema yang antara lain seperti demam, ketar, sakit otot, sakit kepala, letih, hilang selera makan, cirit birit, batuk kering dan sukar bernafas.

Penyakit itu berpunca daripada bakteria yang membiak dalam air terutamanya persekitaran panas seperti tab mandi, tangki air panas, sistem paip air dan sistem penghawa dingin. - AFP

http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2011&dt=0119&pub=Kosmo&sec=Dunia&pg=du_01.htm