Legionnaire's Disease — Part 2

Abstract

The last 30 years has seen the development of knowledge about legionella; how the disease is spread, and its therapy. Unlike other water-borne spread, and its therapy. Unlike other water-borne microbes legionella appear naturally in water, and are spread to humans via aerosols. Most infections are sporadic, but outbreaks such as those in the UK at Kingston and Stafford Hospitals hit the headlines. The dangers of recycling hot water and wet cooling systems have become apparent, and the need for a high index of suspicion and quick response to finding unexpected cases — as in transplant patients in hospital or linked cases such as two BBC workers on one day — is essential.