Legionella Treatment and Prevention
Legionella is a rapidly growing killer disease from different countries. If this disease is not treated immediately, it can spread quickly. Treatment of Legionella is vital to prevent outbreaks and reduce mortality. Many treatments are available to treat legionella and prevent it from spreading.
The disease becomes severe when left untreated but can be even more dangerous if you delay treatment until it becomes worse. This article aims to provide basic information to help you better understand your chances of recovery and how to take a proper first step.
What is Legionella?
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is an intracellular bacterium belonging to Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae. The organism is transmitted by aerosols and microdroplets generated during showers, cooling towers, humidifiers, whirlpool bathtubs, hot tubs, and mist systems. Infection can occur through inhalation of aerosols containing viable spore-formers or by direct contact with infected animals or people.
After an infectious dose is taken into the body, the bacteria may produce both a swimming and non-swimming form depending on the environment they are placed in. When they enter your body, they multiply rapidly inside your lungs, where they cause severe breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
This bacterium can be found in freshwaters, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. After an infectious dose is taken into the body, the bacteria may produce both a swimming and non-swimming form depending on the environment they are placed in. When they enter your body, they multiply rapidly inside your lungs, where they cause severe breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
Risk Factors:
People at risk for developing Legionnaires' disease include people with chronic lung diseases (such as COPD), people with kidney problems, those taking dialysis treatment, or if you have chronic diseases like diabetes or kidney disease. Due to medications or cancer treatments, you may also be at greater risk if you have a suppressed immune system.
Older adults are at greater risk of contracting Legionnaires' disease than younger people. It's most common in those over 50. Still, it can happen at any age, or people have recently quit smoking, people who have lived or worked in areas with poor air quality due to industrialization, or other factors (such as asthma).
Prevent Legionella Disease:
Here are the ways you have to follow to prevent legionella.
The best way to prevent Legionnaires' disease is to keep your home's plumbing system clean and functional.
Regularly sanitize all faucets, showerheads, spigots, and other fixtures with a disinfectant that kills bacteria.
Cleaning your toilet at least once a week is another good way to keep it working properly so you don't have clogged pipes or backups that could allow bacteria to get into your home's plumbing system.
Please don't use an open tub or whirlpool when you aren't using them.
Don't let children swim alone in hot tubs, spas, or whirlpools
Wash hands frequently after changing a diaper or handling raw meat
Avoid touching the toilet seat when it's not up
Flush toilets after each use
Change filters often
Run cold water for at least 20 seconds before using hot water for cooking or drinking.
Check for leaks from pipes and appliances such as hot water heaters and dishwashers.
Make sure you don't have legionella in your home. Follow the manufacturer's instructions if you have an air conditioner or large equipment that can spread this bacterium from one room to another.
Treatment of Legionella:
The most effective treatment method for Legionella disease is removing the infection's source. This can be done by ensuring that you have a clean environment and are not exposed to any other bacteria or viruses. You will also need to take steps to reduce your risk of exposure, such as staying indoors or wearing a mask when you go outside.
If these steps do not work, some other methods can help treat the symptoms of Legionella disease. These include antibiotics and anti-viral.
Another method is to use antibiotics to treat symptoms and prevent complications. The most commonly used antibiotics are ceftriaxone (Rocephin) and doxycycline (Vibramycin). Using both these together and other antibiotics, such as azithromycin (Zithromax), might help reduce further infection or prevent progression if symptoms worsen within a few weeks after contracting the disease.
Final Words:
In this article, we have discussed the different methods of treating Legionella disease. One of the main things about treatment is that it needs to be done in a controlled environment so that all variables can be kept the exact and proper monitoring can occur.
At this point, you should be able to answer any questions about legionella treatment.
Read more about Legionella Treatment here.