Legionellosis (legionnaires’ disease, Pittsburgh pneumonia, Pontian fever, legionella infection) is an acute infectious disease caused by various types of legionella, characterized by fever, severe general intoxication, severe course, damage to the lungs, central nervous system, and digestive organs. In the US, Legionella causes up to 1.5% of all acute pneumonias.
Legionella are Gram-negative bacteria that are widespread and persist for a long time in the external environment (in water up to 1 year). Infection begins aerogenically when the smallest droplets of infected water are inhaled (showers, air conditioner sprayers, etc.). Legionella are highly sensitive to erythromycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, insensitive to tetracycline and completely insensitive to penicillin and cephalosporins.
The gates of infection are the lower parts of the respiratory tract. Persons of average and advanced age get sick more often; the disease is promoted by smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, the use of immunosuppressants, AIDS. When viruses break down, endotoxin is released, which causes damage to a number of organs and systems. In severe cases, an infectious-toxic shock develops, occurring with respiratory and cardiovascular failure, hypoxia, and respiratory acidosis.
Symptoms of legionellosis
The incubation period is 2-10 days (usually 5-7 days). The disease begins acutely. A high increase in body temperature is accompanied by chills. General weakness, weakness, muscle pain are rapidly increasing. From the first days, a painful cough, stabbing pains in the chest are found. Signs of pneumonia are revealed, the respiratory rate reaches 30-40 per 1 min. There may be vomiting, loose stools. The central nervous system is affected (dizziness, delirium, disorders of consciousness). Tachycardia is noted, arterial pressure is lowered. Hemorrhagic syndrome may develop. In severe cases, respiratory and cardiovascular insufficiency quickly increases, infectious-toxic shock develops. Death begins by the end of the first week of illness.
Legionellosis does not always occur in the form of pneumonia. The so-called Pontiac fever is characterized by a short-term increase in temperature (2-5 days), moderate general intoxication. Symptoms of bronchitis and pleurisy may be detected in some patients, but pneumonia is absent. There are no lethal outcomes in this form of the disease.
You will need to think about legionellosis with the development of severe pneumonia in an unusual season (end of summer) in middle-aged and elderly men in the presence of predisposing factors (smoking, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, etc.). The absence of a therapeutic effect from the antibiotics traditionally used for pneumonia (penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline) is also important. It will need to be differentiated from other pneumonias. Bacteriological and serological methods are used to confirm the diagnosis.
Articles from the forum on the topic ” Legionellosis “
What is legionellosis?
Answer #1
LEGIONELLOSIS (legionnaires’ disease), an acute human infectious disease caused by a special type of bacteria: fever, pneumonia, gastrointestinal disorders are not uncommon; severe course. First discovered in 1976 in the United States during a convention of the American Legion (hence the name).
Answer #2
Legionellosis (“Legionnaires’ disease”; other names are Pittsburgh pneumonia, Pontiac fever, Legionella infection, Fort Bragg fever) is an acute sapronous infectious disease caused by various types of microorganisms belonging to the genus Legionella.[1][2] The disease proceeds, as a rule, with severe fever, general intoxication, damage to the lungs, central nervous system, digestive organs, and the development of multiple organ failure syndrome is possible.
Answer #3
often formed in water-cooled air conditioners, airborne
Answer #4
acute infectious lung disease!
Answer #5
Pneumonia. usually take a long time to heal.