Journal of Tropical Diseases & Public Health

Scientific Considerations on Legionnaires’ Disease and Public Water Systems

Laurence Stenborns^* Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital Centre of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
^*Correspondence: Laurence Stenborns, Department of Parasitology-Mycology, University Hospital Centre of Montpellier, Montpellier, France, Email:

Received: 02-Aug-2022, Manuscript No. JTD-22-18011; Editor assigned: 05-Aug-2022, Pre QC No. JTD-22-18011 (PQ); Reviewed: 22-Aug-2022, QC No. JTD-22-18011; Revised: 29-Aug-2022, Manuscript No. JTD-22-18011 (R); Published: 05-Sep-2022, DOI: 10.35248/2329-891X.22.10.344

Description

Legionella is an opportunistic premise plumbing pathogen that causes Legionnaires' Disease (LD), a severe form of pneumonia. LD cases are increasing both domestically and internationally. Legionella is still considered an "emerging pathogen" despite being discovered 45 years ago. Legionella is regularly found in drinking water that complies with regulations and is a natural component of the ecology of a public water system. The need for drinking water utilities, regulators, and public health officials to have a thorough grasp of the complicated discussions surrounding the public water utility's role in Legionella exposure and LD risk is growing.

Legionella was classified as an "emerging pathogen" by the Water Research Foundation more than 40 years after it was originally discovered. In fact, during public health outbreak investigations, it is frequently stated that the public water system may be the cause of the outbreak, and water utilities may continue to be the topic of litigation as building owners test the incoming water more regularly. Public water systems have come under scrutiny as a result of a recent LD outbreak in Flint, Michigan in 2014– 2015, which happened after widespread flaws in the water utility. Public water supplies have also been linked to LD outbreak investigations in other cases. It is becoming more and more important for public health professionals, drinking water regulators, and water utilities to grasp the complicated concerns of the public water utility's role in Legionella exposure and LD risk.

An opportunistic premise plumbing pathogen called Legionella is the cause of legionellosis. Legionellosis is a set of illnesses that includes Pontiac fever, a sickness that is typically less severe, extrapulmonary infections, and Legionnaires' Disease (LD), a severe pneumonia that frequently requires hospital treatment. In the United States, LD hospitalizations range from 8 to 18,000 each year. In the US, Legionella has been found to be the main source of waterborne outbreaks

The bacteria are frequently found in freshwater environments and thrive in warm, stagnant water (25°C-45°C) inside free-living amoebas. Inhaling aerosolized water carrying Legionella, generally from showers, whirlpool spas, outdoor cooling equipment, humidifiers, misters, and respiratory therapy devices, is the main human exposure route to the bacteria. Although LD cannot be spread from one person to another or by drinking contaminated water, aspiration is another key method of disease transmission. The risk of LD is increased in older adults, smokers, people with immunocompromised conditions, and people with comorbid diseases.

Legionella growth in public water

Legionella is regularly found in drinking water that complies with regulations and is a natural component of the ecology of a public water system. There are currently no national Legionella drinking water laws in the United States. When water utilities treat their water to get rid of Giardia and viruses, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) believes that Legionella is under control. According to the USEPA, Legionella can enter a facility.

Legionella occurrence in public water utilities

Although it is acknowledged that Legionella is found in drinking water that complies with regulations, there is still disagreement over how common it is in distributed water and whether there should be an acceptable detection concentration. Few studies have examined the outcomes of Legionella samples taken from public water distribution systems, and even fewer have examined factors that may make it more likely that Legionella will be found in a water utility distribution.