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Legionnaires' disease or legionellosis is caused by a bacterium known as Legionella pneumophilia.This bacterium can only grow in special nutrient solutions, hence it is difficult to isolate.It is able to change its shapes too, from rod to circular(cocci).
The bacteria is transmitted via droplets of water which come mainly from air-conditioning systems.The bacteria are found in water streams,water supplies or other fresh water sources.
Legionnaires' disease resembles pneumonia.The patient may experience diarrhea,lethargy,headache,muscle aches,malaise, cough.Fever may be seen ,increasing to 40 C .The patient may be in a state of stupor.However, many of the people infected do not get the disease.Instead, they may only experience mild or no symptoms at all.Patients with compromised immune systems will experience severe symptoms.
The antibiotic, erythromycin is effective in treating this disease and recovery is rapid.Another antibiotic, rifampin could be used also.
Reduce contamination of air-consitioning systems.Immuno-compromised systems should avoid places where excessive dust or water droplets are generated.No vaccine is available.
Legionnaires' disease is a fairly recent disease.It was first isolated in 1976 after a major outbreak during the American Legion Convention in Philadelphia, hence the name Legionnaires' disease.The researchers took a long time to isolate it, and found a new family of bacteria,Legionella
