Legionnaires' Disease (Legionellosis)
什麼是Legionnaires' Disease (Legionellosis)
Legionellosis is a waterborne bacterial disease with two forms that are commonly known as Legionnnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever. Legionnaires’ disease causes a serious form of pneumonia and can be fatal, especially in the elderly. Pontiac fever is a similar but milder disease and does not cause pneumonia or death. Both diseases are caused by bacteria in the genus Legionella. These bacteria grow naturally in warm freshwater environments, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. However, transmission of legionellosis is more likely to occur from contact with artificial water systems like hot tubs, showers, decorative fountains, and improperly maintained air conditioning systems. Rare cases of legionellosis have occurred from contact with potting soil.
您如何獲得Legionnaires' Disease (Legionellosis)？
Transmission of legionellosis usually occurs following exposure to warm, aerosolised water since the bacteria is inhaled through water droplets in water sprays or mists. Exposure can occur around hot tubs, showers, or inadequately maintained air conditioning cooling towers. Acquiring this disease depends on a number of factors, such as the extent of contamination in the water and the virulence of the particular strain of the bacteria. Person-to-person transmission of legionellosis does not occur.
易感性和抵抗力
Factors that increase the risk of acquiring legionellosis include: smoking, diabetes, chronic lung disease, increasing age (greater than 50 years old), and compromised immunity. The disease is more common in males but rare in people younger than 20 years old.
有哪些症狀？
Both Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever cause loss of appetite, fatigue, aches and pains, headache, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
Legionnaires’ disease can be severe and generally progresses into pneumonia and causes a nonproductive cough. Complications in severe cases include respiratory failure, shock, and kidney and multi-organ failure. This disease usually requires hospitalisation and 10 to 15 percent of cases end in death. Recovery from Legionnaires’ disease requires treatment with antibiotics and takes several weeks or months.
Pontiac fever does not cause pneumonia or death, and patients usually recover without treatment in 2 to 5 days.
預防措施
沒有疫苗或抗生素可預防或治療軍團菌病。感染風險增加的旅行者（老年人，吸煙者，癌症或糖尿病患者等）應避開高風險區域，例如漩渦浴池，熱水浴池和其他會產生水霧和水蒸氣的設施。
治療
Pontiac fever does not require any treatment as patients recover from this disease spontaneously.
Legionnaires’ disease is usually treated with antibiotics known as respiratory fluoroquinolones (such as levofloxacin) or macrolides. Treatment can be necessary for up to 3 weeks, and severe cases usually require hospitalization in an intensive care unit.
驗證
通常在哪裡發生？
Legionnaires’ disease occurs worldwide throughout the year but is more common in summer and autumn.
