Protection measures for the Legionella bacterium are being requested by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Ministry of Health following the infection of a tourist from Great Britain with Legionnaires’ disease, which has intensified water tests in hotel units throughout Crete.
Checks by the competent authorities even showed the bacterium in 50% of the samples taken.
The Legionella bacterium entered the British woman’s system at the beginning of her holiday in a hotel on the Peninsula and had the incubation period needed to manifest itself.
“The bacterium is found in natural environments such as lakes and rivers, and some studies have shown that it has even been found in deionised water. Then it enters a technical water supply network which either due to age, non-maintenance or non-disinfection and of course due to failure to maintain the correct temperature, develops, “explained to ERT the head of the Public Health Directorate of the Region of Crete Antonis Papadakis, noting that the bacterium ‘hides’ in blind and dead-end points of the network and is not destroyed by simple chlorination.”
At a meeting convened by the deputy regional governor George Pitsoulis with the participation of the president of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Christakis Chatzichristodoulou, the head of the regional public health laboratory of Crete Anna Psaroulaki, hotel representatives and other officials, it was noted that it is imperative both to continue controls and to comply with the rules to prevent the development of bacterial populations.
“We all have to be vigilant. We need to keep up the checks and hoteliers need to set the right water temperature and do good chlorination. So we will implement the right prevention measures,” George Pitsoulis said, speaking to ERT.
In a circular of the Ministry of Health marked “Extremely Urgent” sent on June 16, it is stressed: “On the occasion of recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease in tourists that may be linked to their stay in tourist facilities in the country and in order to raise awareness of all those involved in monitoring the quality of water for human consumption especially with regard to the parameter of Legionella, our Service, within the framework of its responsibilities, recalls the relevant circular regarding the measures to protect public.
What is Legionellosis – Legionnaires’ Disease – The data of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Legionellosis is an acute bacterial infection of the respiratory tract caused by bacteria of the genus Legionellae . There are 50 different species of Legionella, of which 28 have been associated with human disease, the most common being Legionella pneumophila (18 serogroups, most commonly serogroup 1 and serogroup 6).
In more detail there are two different clinical entities of the disease:
- Pontiac fever, which is a self-limiting flu-like infection
- Legionnaires’ disease, which manifests mainly as pneumonia, potentially fatal in about 5-30% of cases.
In summary, Legionella is:
- A bacterium widely distributed in nature.
- It is found in most water systems.
- It readily colonizes all water systems, hot and cold water supply systems.
Environments conducive to the growth of Legionella
Ideal water temperature 20 – 45o C.
- In hot and cold water tanks and reservoirs.
- In pipes with little or no water flow e.g. unoccupied rooms in hotels.
- In sediments (bio-membranes) and impurities on the internal surfaces of pipes and tanks.
- Rubber and natural fibres in anti-friction rings and waterproofing devices
- In water heaters and hot water tanks.
- On salt deposits and corrosion in pipes, showers and taps.
- Survives in other bacteria and amoebae.
Transmission
Aerogenically by inhalation of the bacterium, when contaminated water is dispersed in the air as droplets (aerosol, showers). CAUTION: Not transmissible from person to person
Incubation time:
Pontiac fever: 3-5 days (usually 24-48 hours)
Legionnaires’ disease: 2-10 days (usually 5-6 days)
Possible Sources of Contamination
- Hot and cold water supply systems (showers)
- Cooling towers of air conditioning systems
- Water storage tanks
- Hot springs
- Spas
- Swimming pools (especially those where the water is hot and circulated)
- Fountains
- Humidifiers and respirators powered by tap water
- High risk groups
High risk groups include: All people over 50 years of age, smokers, those under corticosteroid treatment, those with chronic lung disease, diabetes mellitus, neoplastic diseases and kidney failure, those who have undergone organ transplantation, people with weakened and vulnerable immune systems.
