Legionella infections are most commonly associated with cooling towers, hot tubs, pools, showers, and decorative fountains. However, exposure to legionella bacteria can occur through other, more obscure means. Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease) manifests when aerosolized droplets containing legionella bacteria make their way into a patient’s lungs. Legionella bacteria typically is inhaled in through water droplets, but contaminated soil has been found to cause Legionnaires’ Disease on numerous occasions. In Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan, more attention has been paid to the potential risks of acquiring Legionnaires’ Disease or Pontiac Fever from contaminated potting soil. In New Zealand, there was 121 reported…
In June of last year, the CDC published an article entitled Legionnaires Disease on Rise in US. The report states that the rate of reported cases of Legionnaires’ Disease increased by 286% between 2000 and 2014. The total number of CDC-reported cases of Legionnaires Disease in 2000 was 1,100. By the year 2014 a total of 5,166 cases of LD were reported to the CDC. The most recent figures show that this upward trend has continued into 2015. In 2015, the CDC cites a total of 6,079 cases of Legionnaires Disease, a marked 17% increase of reported cases in just a year.…
A report by the UK Government’s Health Protection Agency found that the spray from windshield wipers is a verified source of legionella exposure. The report claimed that windshield washer water could be responsible for up to 20% of all Legionnaires’ Disease cases in the UK. This same reported stated that professional drivers were five times more likely to acquire Legionnaires’ Disease than those in other lines of work. (1) A species of legionella was discovered in freshwater areas contaminated by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1984. Seeing as most newly discovered species of legionella are named after the…
Researchers at the University of Manitoba – Winnipeg and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg have published the results of their research into a new antibiotic compound. This compound, referred to as PEG-2s, is novel in the way it ‘attacks’ infecting bacteria. Traditional antibiotics usually target a bacteria cell’s cell wall or its processes of DNA replication and protein synthesis. PEG-2s instead takes aim at one particular protein that is responsible for providing energy to the cell. The compound is so accurate and effective that the researchers claim that it does not have an effect on good gut bacteria or the body’s…
Researchers at CalTech , The Washington University School of Medicine, and the University of Florida have successfully modeled the ‘Type Four Secretion’ system unique to legionella bacteria. Previously, other scientists have not been able to accurately model this mechanism as the bacteria are only about 40 nanometers in diameter. This process, referred to as the ‘Toxin Gun’ by some, is responsible for the bacteria’s noted resistance to some antibiotics. The ‘Toxin Gun’ secretes thousands of toxic molecules that infect and significantly weaken cells, overloading the body’s immune response. The ‘Toxin Gun’ also shoots out material that is coded with antibiotic resistance genes, thereby allowing more…
Researchers at the Chemical Genomics Center of the Max Planck Society in Munich have promising results from their study of legionella infections. Legionellosis, the process of infection by legionella bacteria, is a particularly evasive infection. The body’s typical immune response involves ‘eating up’ foreign intruders such as bacteria and viruses in a process known as autophagy, ultimately preventing the onset of diseases and infections. A molecule known as LC3-PE is responsible for this process. Legionella bacteria has been found to contain a molecule, called RavZ, that disrupts the actions of LC3-PE and ultimately allows legionella bacteria to propagate within the body,…
The first recorded outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease happened in 1976 in Philadelphia at a conference for American Legion members. There were a total of 182 cases of the disease, 29 of which were fatal. Legionnaires’ Disease is a form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ Disease is also known as legionellosis. The disease takes anywhere from 2 to 14 days to take hold within the body. There are over 50 species of legionella bacteria. The most common by far is legionella pneumophila. Species of legionella are often named after the area in which they were found. There is a species of legionella called…
Pennsylvania appellate court has ruled that a former Nestle USA Inc. employee is entitled to workers compensation indemnity and medical benefits. Shawn Gallen was disabled due to his bout with Legionnaires’ disease, which he believes was caused by exposure to contaminated water while performing his job. Mr. Gallen was an employee of Glendale, California-based Nestle USA Inc. since 1994. He was based in the company’s Burlington, New Jersey, office, but performed most of his work in Pennsylvania doing maintenance work of beverage machines. In June 2013 he experienced flu-like symptoms. He fell into a coma at a hospital and…
Delta Cooling Towers, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of cooling towers, has unveiled a product that they hope will prevent the spread of Legionella bacteria. The cooling towers are made of an anti-microbial resin that has been treated with additives to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The plastic towers are also less affected by water treatments than metal towers–corrosive treatments in metal towers can release nutrients that feed Legionella bacteria. John Flaherty, president of Delta Cooling Towers, mentioned in a statement that this innovation is only one part of the process of safe water management. Competent and consistent maintenance of cooling towers is…
Three members of one family have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in upstate New York. The three cases were not geographically linked and did not begin at the same time. Niagara officials have yet to determine the possible sources of the bacteria, but investigation is ongoing. Richard Jepson, 68, was a resident of Lockport, NY. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer but was hospitalized briefly with Legionnaires’ disease in July before passing away at the Buffalo General Hospital on July 22, 2016. Six weeks after Mr. Jepson’s death, his stepdaughter Debra Trammell, 50, and his ex-wife Patricia Lord, 70, were…