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Legionella is an aquatic bacterium measuring 0.5 to 0.7 microns in width and 2 to 20 microns in length. The bacterium Legionella pneumophila is responsible for more than 90% of infections; it consists of 15 serogroups, although serogroup 1 is the most common.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about Legionella:
What is Legionella and what does it cause to health?
Legionella causes symptoms such as lung infection, characterized by pneumonia with high fever or the non-pneumonic symptom manifesting as an acute febrile syndrome.
The Legionella bacterium, discovered in 1976, was revealed as the causative agent of a serious lung disease. This discovery occurred after a respiratory epidemic outbreak that affected 182 people participating in an American Legion convention. Identified as Legionella pneumophila, it gave rise to the well-known “Legionnaire’s disease” or legionellosis.
Originating in natural environments, it can easily move into water distribution systems, including building networks, where it finds a suitable habitat for colonization.
And now we would have a problem because it spreads quickly through water and enters our respiratory system through aerosols, which can cause serious respiratory diseases.
However, currently, this infection is considered controllable as long as appropriate measures are taken, which include the application of specific therapies in patients and rigorous control of affected facilities.
In what environment does it live and spread?
The natural habitat of Legionella is water, so we can find it in nature in rivers, lakes, ponds, and fountains; especially associated with the existence of sludge and organic matter.
Legionella can infect the supply system of an area (cooling systems, irrigation, swimming pools, and car washes).
Here in these water systems, water stagnation can occur (organic matter in corrosion, amoebae, other bacteria, etc.) enabling the multiplication of the Legionella bacteria.
What does Legionella need to survive?
–Water, and if it’s stagnant, even better. Being an aquatic bacterium, it can be present in any aquatic environment. Water stagnation and the accumulation of necessary nutrients (decomposing organic matter, bacteria) are the optimal conditions for its propagation.
– An ideal temperature for its proliferation between 20°C to 45°C, with its optimum temperature between 35°C to 37°C, which is the temperature of the human body (that’s why they’re so comfortable). And below 20°C: it remains dormant. And above 70°C: it dies.
How can we prevent Legionella?
– Avoid using unnecessary filters for taps and showers. If used, we must have proper maintenance of these.
– Use of large droplet diffusers.
– Those taps which we use less frequently should be allowed to run water weekly for a couple of minutes.
– Disinfect diffusers and filters with products such as bleach once a year.
– Remove lime concentrations from taps and showers.
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Health measures for the prevention and control of Legionella
The Royal Decree establishing health criteria for the prevention and control of Legionella aims to establish the measures to be applied in facilities susceptible to its proliferation and dissemination.
Regulations on Legionella, Royal Decree 487/2022
The Royal Decree reflects the requirements that must be met when carrying out water installations, as well as the quality of the water. In turn, a responsible certification will be required for the correct fulfillment of the requirements issued by the competent technician.
Failure to comply with these measures can lead to a series of sanctions depending on the level of severity. Among them we highlight:
– Minor infractions: Fine of up to 3,000 euros. These sanctions will expire after 12 months.
– Serious infractions: Fine of 3,001 to 60,000 euros. Serious infractions will expire after 3 years.
– Very serious infraction: Fine of 60,001 to 600,000 euros, which may exceed this amount up to five times the market value of the products or services subject to the infraction. In the case of committing a very serious infraction, it will not expire until 5 years have passed.