The Legionella (or Legionella) is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause lung disease in humans, including Legionnaires’ disease (also known as Legionellosis) and Pontiac fever. Legionella is notably found in water, and infection can be transmitted when an individual breathes in droplets of water contaminated by this bacterium. As with many types of respiratory infection, the symptoms associated with legionellosis are not very characteristic. The main symptoms are cough, fever, muscle aches, headaches, excessive shortness of breath and lethargy.
It should be noted that the risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease increases with age, and with medical or health conditions that weaken the immune system. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption also increase the risk of infection. Men also seem particularly susceptible to infection, accounting for 60-70% of reported cases!
Laboratory analysis and culture of legionella samples.
Historically, the bacterium was discovered in an outbreak following the 1976 American Legion Convention in Philadelphia. That’s where it gets its name, Legionella. In studying this episode and other subsequent epidemics, research into the sources of the disease revealed that most significant exposure to these pathogenic bacteria results from their proliferation in aerosol-producing installations where stagnant water can be found, such as cooling towers, air-conditioning systems, spas or equipment linked to drinking water distribution systems (safety showers, hot water tanks, misters, etc.).
In Quebec, legionellosis has been on the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ list of notifiable diseases (MADO) since 1987. Then in 2012, following the Legionella outbreak that claimed 13 lives in Quebec City, the Régie du Bâtiment established regulations on the management of water-cooled cooling towers. Indeed, it was this type of installation that was at the origin of the epidemic, and seems to represent the highest risk of exposure leading to infection. This increased risk is due, among other things, to the fact that this equipment forms a lot of aerosols, which can carry the bacteria several hundred meters! Currently, Legionella pneumophila is the only species of the Legionella genus covered by these regulations (Decree 454-2015). Although several other Legionella species exist, some of which such as Legionella longbeachae and L. bozemanii can be pathogenic, these infections are much rarer and are much less associated with large-scale outbreaks.
If your building has water installations such as spas, water heaters, safety showers, misters or aerosol-generating air conditioning systems, note that it may be appropriate to add Legionella analysis to your risk identification and management program. If you have a water-cooled cooling tower installation (WCTI), you will be subject to the regulations governing the transmission of information to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec(RBQ)2.
Legionella bacilli, microscope
Lab’EAU-AIR-SOL has a rigorous team of qualified microbiologists and chemists for your analysis needs. We are also authorized to produce ITRE maintenance programs for Legionella prevention. We also offer consulting services for risk analysis of other types of systems that may be the source of Legionella exposure.
Contact us for more information at labeauairsol.ca/service-request/