Why is Legionella so dangerous?

Legionella is a bacterium responsible for Legionnaires' disease, also known as Veterans' disease.

Legionella causes a severe form of pneumonia that can be life-threatening, especially in the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and people with underlying health conditions such as chronic lung disease. The symptoms of Legionellosis, such as fever, muscle aches, and difficulty breathing, are similar to those of other pneumonias, which can make it difficult to diagnose the disease quickly and correctly.

Legionella can survive and multiply in water systems, air conditioning systems, and cooling towers, especially at temperatures between 20-50°C. This makes it easy for the bacteria to spread via aerosolized water droplets, for example in showers, fountains, or air conditioning.

Inhaling even a small amount of contaminated water droplets can be enough to cause infection. This makes the bacteria particularly dangerous in environments such as hospitals, hotels, and cruise ships. Without timely and proper treatment, the mortality rate of Legionellosis can be as high as 10-15%, depending on the vulnerability of the patient.

Legionella is therefore dangerous because of its potential to cause severe, difficult-to-diagnose pneumonia, its ability to survive in artificial water environments, and the high risk of death without adequate treatment.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/about/index.html

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-08-31 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024