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Legionella is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that can be seen using a silver stain or grown in a special media that contains cysteine, an amino acid.It is known to cause legionellosis [3] (all illnesses caused by Legionella) including a pneumonia-type illness called Legionnaires' disease and a mild flu-like illness called Pontiac fever. [3]
Legionella spp. enter the lungs either by aspiration of contaminated water or inhalation of aerosolized contaminated water or soil. In the lung, the bacteria are consumed by macrophages , a type of white blood cell , inside of which the Legionella bacteria multiply, causing the death of the macrophage.
Legionella pneumophila, the primary causative agent for Legionnaire's disease, is an aerobic, pleomorphic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacterium. [1] [2] L. pneumophila is a intracellular parasite that preferentially infects soil amoebae and freshwater protozoa for replication.
Legionella is found naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams, but can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in constructed water systems.
Temperature affects the survival of Legionella as follows: [93] 70 to 80 °C (158 to 176 °F): Disinfection range; At 66 °C (151 °F): Legionellae die within 2 minutes; At 60 °C (140 °F): They die within 32 minutes; At 55 °C (131 °F): They die within 5 to 6 hours; Above 50 °C (122 °F): They can survive but do not multiply
Legionella is often present in small quantities in the water cruise lines pick up in port for drinking, use in showers and amenities like whirlpool spas, but not high enough to make people sick ...
Legionella bacteria is spread through the air when an individual breathes in a mist that contains the bacteria. Some water samples at the Peregrine Senior Living Facility tested positive for ...
Legionella is considered to be pathogenic in humans and is one of the leading outbreaks found in constructed water systems. Because the biofilms are the source, countless outbreaks that originated from water systems and the ability of a species to form biofilms both can contribute to L. clemonensis’s pathogenicity. [7]