6 new cases of Legionella were reported, the number of infected persons

With six new reports, between last night and this morning, there are 33 citizens of Bresso who contracted legionella bacteria. This was announced by the Department of Social Protection and Health of the Lombardy Region. Three of them presented themselves at the Bbadini Hospital of Cinisello Balsamo, still in Milan, in good condition, to such an extent that only one of them was admitted and the two others received antibiotic therapy at home; two turned to hospital Niguarda, hospitalized, but still with a non-troubling clinical picture; we are hospitalized in Mater Domini hospital of Catanzaro

"Despite the non stop the number of cases reported – noted the Commissioner Giulio Gallera – of the 20 patients transferred to Niguarda, 6 were released , the others are stable and in the process of recovery, in Bbadini, there are 6 patients still hospitalized, but none in a critical situation ". "Meanwhile – concluded Gallera – badysis of the 208 samples taken from 29 homes and 15 external sensitive sites is underway at the ATS prevention laboratory The first definitive results will be ready in a few days."

Legionella, or Legionnaire's disease, in technical jargon also called legionellosis, is a pulmonary infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The genus Legionella, reminiscent of the ISS Epicenter's website, was named in 1976 after an epidemic spread among participants of the American Legion meeting at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. The source of bacterial contamination in this case was identified in the hotel air conditioning system

SOURCES OF INFINITY Legionella are present in natural and artificial aquatic environments: spring waters, including thermal waters, rivers, lakes, mud. From these environments, they reach the artificial ones, such as city ducts and water systems of buildings, such as tanks, pipes, fountains and swimming pools, which can act as amplifiers and diffusers of the microorganism. Legionnaire's disease is normally acquired by inhalation, aspiration or micro-aspiration of aerosol containing Legionella, or particles derived by drying. Cases of legionellosis acquired by wounds have also been reported in the literature. Human-to-human transmission of the disease has never been demonstrated

SUBJECTS AT RISK The predisposing factors for the disease are old age, smoking, the presence of chronic diseases, immunodeficiency. The risk of acquiring the disease is mainly related to the individual susceptibility of the exposed subject and to the degree of intensity of exposure, represented by the amount of Legionella present and by the time of. exposure. The mortality rate can range from 40 to 80% in untreated immunocompromised patients, to 5-30% in the case of appropriate treatment of the disease. Overall, the lethality of legionellosis is between 5% and 10%

SYMPTOMS After an incubation period ranging from 2 to 10 days (on average 5-6 days), it manifests itself as a infectious pneumonia, with or without extrapulmonary manifestations. In severe cases, it can occur abruptly with fever, chest pain, dyspnea, cyanosis, productive cough. Legionnaire's complications include lung abscess, empyema, respiratory failure, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenic purpura, and renal failure. She is treated with antibiotic therapy.

PREVENTION Prevention is based essentially on the correct design and construction of systems involving water heating and / or fogging, as well as the adoption of preventive measures (maintenance and disinfection). ). Hydro-sanitary systems, water-based humidification air conditioning systems, cooling systems with evaporation towers or evaporative condensers, distribution systems and thermal water supply, swimming pools and hot tubs are considered such. [19659008] Follow ilogliogli.it on facebook