Legionnaires' Disease

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease (APLD) says new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommendations for legionella mitigation are a significant step forward in stopping the spread of the waterborne illness that is fatal in 10 to 30 percent of cases. "We applaud the EPA for setting new guidelines to better ensure the safety of our water," said Tonya Winders, Executive Director of the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease. "Preventing the spread of Legionnaires' Disease is attainable with the right preparation and planning. We are calling on state legislatures to use these recommendations as the basis for implementing better policies to minimize opportunistic pathogens like legionella in our drinking water system." The Report of the Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts Rule Revisions Working Group contains 13 guidelines and includes a recommendation to "Raise the national minimum disinfectant residual requirement from the current value of 'detectable' and include a range for consideration of setting a minimum specific value of up to 0.5 mg/L for free chlorine and 0.7 mg/L for total chlorine for chloraminating systems." "Many water systems maintain only a 'detect' level of disinfectant free chlorine, which is simply not an effective level especially when it comes to killing or controlling legionella growth, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' Disease," said Dr. Hung Cheung, APLD Board Member and Founder & President of Cogency. "Increasing the minimum disinfectant level at the point of use is an important recommendation we have been advocating for a long time and it is one we hope all 50 states will use as their standard moving forward." The Working Group also has a recommendation to, "Develop and implement a legionella public awareness campaign targeting smaller-scale building owner/renters (e.g., single family residences) to elevate improved building water quality management practices." "We have ignored the lion's share of Legionnaires' Disease cases, which is individual, sporadic cases, for far too long," said environmentalist activist Erin Brockovich. "It is time to recognize the facts and focus on what is happening in people's homes. The recommendations are a big step forward in terms of improving water quality throughout the country." According to the CDC, 96 percent of all Legionnaires' Disease cases are individual, sporadic cases and not related to outbreaks. Legionnaires' Disease is a waterborne illness, caused by Legionella bacteria, which is present in biofilms in water systems. Disruptions and changes in our water systems can increase the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria. and the best way to minimize this risk, is to take a root cause approach. The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease is recommending the following steps for prevention: Increase investment in water infrastructure and technology that more effectively reduces or even eliminates Legionella bacteria from the water going through a water treatment plant and the municipal distribution system. Utilize the EPA, working with water utilities, to take a more active role in minimizing legionella in the public water systems, including more robust monitoring and testing programs. Notify communities, including buildings and individual homeowners, when disruptions in the water supply system have occurred, as these disruptions could lead to higher contaminant levels, including Legionella, entering the water systems inside the buildings and homes. Require public health officials to conduct comprehensive investigations of Legionnaires' disease cases, including sampling drinking water at multiple points, to ensure the bacteria's true source is found. "We have seen a number of states such as Illinois incorporate these reforms into their water management requirements, but more states need to become more proactive in protecting the health of their residents," Winders said. "These guidelines are an important step in that process." The full Working Group report can be found here: For more information on Legionnaires' Disease and the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires' Disease, visit the Alliance's website: . SOURCE Prevent Legionnaires'

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst a nationwide surge of Legionnaires' disease cases, Pritzker Hageman's award-winning team of infectious disease lawyers is actively engaged in outbreak investigations, pursuing justice and compensation for victims and their families. What is Legionnaires' Disease? Continue Reading People get sick with Legionnaires' disease when they breathe in mist contaminated with legionella bacteria. Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water mist contaminated with legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria causes a group of infectious diseases known as legionellosis which includes legionella pneumonia and a mild illness called Pontiac fever. Legionella is one of the most common waterborne pathogens to cause community-acquired pneumonia. Legionnaires' disease outbreaks have been linked to the cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, and plumbing systems of hotels, hospitals, and other large buildings. While the CDC reports about 10,000 cases of Legionnaires' disease each year, the true number is likely much higher. Legionnaires' disease is frequently misdiagnosed due to its flu-like symptoms, resulting in delayed treatment and potentially fatal outcomes. Among untreated cases of Legionnaires' disease, the death rate can be as high as 80 percent. Signs and Symptoms of Legionnaires' Disease The first signs of Legionnaires' disease typically appear within two to ten days after exposure to legionella bacteria. Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease typically include: Headache Muscle aches High fever Productive cough Shortness of breath Chest pain Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Confusion Those with increased risk for Legionnaires' disease due to age, smoking history, chronic lung disease, and weakened immunity, face a heightened risk of serious complications such as respiratory failure, kidney failure, septic shock, and Guillain Barre Syndrome. Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Investigations An effective water management plan is the industry standard for preventing Legionnaires' disease outbreaks. When building operators fail to regularly monitor and clean their water systems, it can lead to severe illness and even death. The Pritzker Hageman Legionnaires' lawyers are currently investigating a Legionnaires' disease outbreak associated with the hot tub at The Creeks on Kirklevington in Lexington, Kentucky. If you or a loved one contracted Legionnaires' disease, it is important to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible because laws called statutes of limitations may limit the amount of time you have to file a claim. An experienced Legionnaires' disease lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case to determine the source of your legionella infection and identify the liable parties that can be sued. Contact Eric Hageman 1-888-377-8900 [email protected] Raymond Trueblood 1-888-377-8900 [email protected] SOURCE Pritzker Hageman, P.A.

New research could one day lead to therapies that prevent or treat diseases and infections tied to a protein that's found in all human cells. A study describes how the protein ubiquitin is modified during a bacterial infection. The study details the steps taken to create a form of the protein known as lysine 6 polyubiquitin, where a long chain of ubiquitin molecules are linked through the amino acid lysine. Previous research has indicated that this form of ubiquitin may be linked to the development of Parkinson's disease and breast cancer. New research from Oregon Health & Science University could one day lead to therapies that prevent or treat diseases and infections tied to a protein that's found in all human cells. A study published today in the journal Molecular Cell describes how the protein ubiquitin is modified during a bacterial infection. The study details the steps taken to create a form of the protein known as lysine 6 polyubiquitin, where a long chain of ubiquitin molecules are linked through the amino acid lysine. This form of ubiquitin helps cells communicate by sending a molecular message -- communication that remains poorly understood. Previous research has indicated that this form of ubiquitin may be linked to the development of Parkinson's disease and breast cancer. However, the details of how lysine 6 polyubiquitin is formed or how it is involved in disease aren't yet clear. To explore this, OHSU scientists turned their attention to illness-causing bacteria and how they manipulate lysine 6 polyubiquitin during infection. Researchers isolated enzymes used by E. coli and Salmonella to cause food poisoning and other illnesses, and observed how the enzymes interacted with ubiquitin. The team learned that one particular enzyme was central to building up lysine 6 polyubiquitin. In earlier, related research that was published in January, the same scientists found that a different enzyme from a different illness-causing bacteria, Legionella pneumophila -- which causes a type of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease -- actively breaks apart the same molecule during infection. This means different enzymes have different impacts on the same lysine 6 polyubiquitin during infection. "Knowing how lysine 6 polyubiquitin is regulated is an important first step," said the study's senior researcher, Jonathan Pruneda, Ph.D., an assistant professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine. "We'll use this knowledge as a foundation for future research, including exploring how bacteria take advantage of ubiquitin while infecting cells. "One day, I hope we can harness this research to develop new ways to prevent and treat infections and disease." Pruneda and colleagues are currently digging into how the regulation of lysine 6 polyubiquitin is involved in Parkinson's disease and breast cancer.