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Water Research Aug 2024Legionella is an opportunistic waterborne pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease. It poses a significant public health risk, especially to vulnerable populations in...
Legionella is an opportunistic waterborne pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease. It poses a significant public health risk, especially to vulnerable populations in health care facilities. It is ubiquitous in manufactured water systems and is transmitted via inhalation or aspiration of aerosols/water droplets generated from water fixtures (e.g., showers and hand basins). As such, the effective management of premise plumbing systems (building water systems) in health care facilities is essential for reducing the risk of Legionnaires' disease. Chemical disinfection is a commonly used control method and chlorine-based disinfectants, including chlorine, chloramine, and chlorine dioxide, have been used for over a century. However, the effectiveness of these disinfectants in premise plumbing systems is affected by various interconnected factors that can make it challenging to maintain effective disinfection. This systematic literature review identifies all studies that have examined the factors impacting the efficacy and decay of chlorine-based disinfectant within premise plumbing systems. A total of 117 field and laboratory-based studies were identified and included in this review. A total of 20 studies directly compared the effectiveness of the different chlorine-based disinfectants. The findings from these studies ranked the typical effectiveness as follows: chloramine > chlorine dioxide > chlorine. A total of 26 factors were identified across 117 studies as influencing the efficacy and decay of disinfectants in premise plumbing systems. These factors were sorted into categories of operational factors that are changed by the operation of water devices and fixtures (such as stagnation, temperature, water velocity), evolving factors which are changed in-directly (such as disinfectant concentration, Legionella disinfectant resistance, Legionella growth, season, biofilm and microbe, protozoa, nitrification, total organic carbon(TOC), pH, dissolved oxygen(DO), hardness, ammonia, and sediment and pipe deposit) and stable factors that are not often changed(such as disinfectant type, pipe material, pipe size, pipe age, water recirculating, softener, corrosion inhibitor, automatic sensor tap, building floor, and construction activity). A factor-effect map of each of these factors and whether they have a positive or negative association with disinfection efficacy against Legionella in premise plumbing systems is presented. It was also found that evaluating the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection as a water risk management strategy is further complicated by varying disinfection resistance of Legionella species and the form of Legionella (culturable/viable but non culturable, free living/biofilm associated, intracellular replication within amoeba hosts). Future research is needed that utilises sensors and other approaches to measure these key factors (such as pH, temperature, stagnation, water age and disinfection residual) in real time throughout premise plumbing systems. This information will support the development of improved models to predict disinfection within premise plumbing systems. The findings from this study will inform the use of chlorine-based disinfection within premise plumbing systems to reduce the risk of Legionnaires disease.
Topics: Disinfectants; Chlorine; Legionella; Disinfection; Chlorine Compounds; Water Microbiology; Chloramines; Water Supply; Oxides; Water Purification
PubMed: 38824796
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121794 -
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and... Nov 2023Legionnaires' Disease (LD) rarely evolves into pulmonary abscesses. The current systematic review has been designed to explore therapeutical strategies in pulmonary... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Legionnaires' Disease (LD) rarely evolves into pulmonary abscesses. The current systematic review has been designed to explore therapeutical strategies in pulmonary cavitary LD.
METHODS
A research strategy was developed and applied to the databases Embase, Pubmed, and Web of Science from the 1st of January 2000 to the 1st of November 2022. Original articles, case series, case reports, and guidelines written in English, French, German, Italian, and Dutch were considered. Furthermore, medical records of patients treated at the University Hospital UZ Brussel for LD cavitary pneumonia, between the 1st of January 2016 to the 1st of January 2022, were reviewed.
RESULTS
Two patients were found by the UZ Brussel's medical records investigation. Through the literature review, 23 reports describing 29 patients, and seven guidelines were identified. The overall evidence level was low.
RESULT OF SYNTHESIS (CASE REPORTS)
The median age was 48 years and 65% were male. A polymicrobial infection was detected in 11 patients (44%) with other aerobic bacteria being the most commonly found. At diagnosis, 52% of patients received combination therapy, and fluoroquinolones were the preferred antimicrobial class. Anaerobic coverage was neglected in 33% of patients.
RESULT OF SYNTHESIS (GUIDELINES)
Three guidelines favor monotherapy with fluoroquinolones or macrolides, while one suggested an antimicrobial combination in case of severe LD. Four guidelines recommended anaerobic coverage in case of lung abscesses.
CONCLUSION
To date, the evidence supporting cavitary LD treatment is low. Monotherapy lowers toxicity and might be as effective as combination therapy. Finally, anaerobes should not be neglected.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Legionnaires' Disease; Pneumonia; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Fluoroquinolones; Macrolides
PubMed: 38031167
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-023-00652-5 -
European Journal of Internal Medicine Feb 2024The optimal antimicrobial regimen for adults with respiratory failure due to Legionella pneumonia remains controversial. A systematic review was performed to assess the...
The optimal antimicrobial regimen for adults with respiratory failure due to Legionella pneumonia remains controversial. A systematic review was performed to assess the impact on outcomes comparing quinolones versus macrolides. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science between 2012 and 2022. It yielded 124 potentially articles and ten observational studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 4271 patients were included, 2879 (67 %) were male. A total of 1797 (42 %) subjects required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 942 (52 %) mechanical ventilation. Fluoroquinolones and macrolides alone were administered in 1397 (33 %) and 1500 (35 %) subjects, respectively; combined therapy in 204 (4.8 %) patients. Overall mortality was 7.4 % (319 patients), with no difference between antibiotics. When data from the three studies with severe pneumonia were pooled together, mortality with fluoroquinolones alone was statistically superior to macrolides alone (72.8 % vs 30.8 %, p value 0.027). Hospital length of stay and complications were comparable. Our findings suggest that macrolides and quinolones were comparable for hospitalized Legionella pneumonia. However, in severe pneumonia, a randomized clinical trial is an unmet clinical need. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023389308.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Female; Macrolides; Quinolones; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Legionnaires' Disease; Fluoroquinolones; Legionella; Respiratory Insufficiency; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37730517
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.09.013 -
Environmental Research Nov 2022A number of studies suggest that meteorological conditions are related to the risk of Legionnaires' disease (LD) but the findings are not consistent. A systematic review...
A number of studies suggest that meteorological conditions are related to the risk of Legionnaires' disease (LD) but the findings are not consistent. A systematic review was conducted to investigate the association of weather with sporadic LD and highlight the key meteorological conditions related to this outcome. PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and OpenGrey were searched on 26-27 March 2020 without date, language or location restrictions. Key words included "legionellosis", "legionnaires' disease", combined with "meteorological conditions", "weather", "temperature", "humidity", "rain", "ultraviolet rays", "wind speed", etc. Studies were excluded if they did not examine the exposure of interest, the outcome of interest and their association or if they only reported LD outbreak cases. The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and it was registered in PROSPERO (#CRD42020168869). There were 811 articles, of which 17 were included in the review. The studies investigated different meteorological variables and most of them examined the combined effect of several variables. The most commonly examined factors were precipitation and temperature, followed by relative humidity. The studies suggested that increased precipitation, temperature and relative humidity were positively associated with the incidence of LD. There was limited evidence that higher wind speed, pressure, visibility, UV radiation and longer sunshine duration were inversely linked with the occurrence of LD. A period of increased but not very high temperatures, followed by a period of increased precipitation, favour the occurrence of LD. Increased awareness of the association of temperature and precipitation and LD occurrence among clinicians and public health professionals can improve differential diagnosis for cases of sporadic community-acquired pneumonia and at the same time contribute to improving LD surveillance.
Topics: Humans; Humidity; Legionnaires' Disease; Meteorology; Temperature; Weather
PubMed: 35964674
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114080 -
Microorganisms Feb 2022Legionnaires' Disease (LD) is a severe, sometimes fatal interstitial pneumonia due to . Since the inception of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, some contradictory reports about... (Review)
Review
Legionnaires' Disease (LD) is a severe, sometimes fatal interstitial pneumonia due to . Since the inception of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, some contradictory reports about the effects of lockdown measures on its epidemiology have been published, but no summary evidence has been collected to date. Therefore, we searched two different databases (PubMed and EMBASE) focusing on studies that reported the occurrence of LD among SARS-CoV-2 cases. Data were extracted using a standardized assessment form, and the results of such analyses were systematically reported, summarized, and compared. We identified a total of 38 articles, including 27 observational studies (either prospective or retrospective ones), 10 case reports, and 1 case series. Overall, data on 10,936 SARS-CoV-2 cases were included in the analyses. Of them, 5035 (46.0%) were tested for either through urinary antigen test or PCR, with 18 positive cases (0.4%). A pooled prevalence of 0.288% (95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 0.129-0.641), was eventually calculated. Moreover, detailed data on 19 co-infections LD + SARS-CoV-2 were obtained (males: 84.2%; mean age: 61.9 years, range 35 to 83; 78.9% with 1 or more underlying comorbidities), including 16 (84.2%) admissions to the ICU, with a Case Fatality Ratio of 26.3%. In summary, our analyses suggest that the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2- infections may represent a relatively rare but not irrelevant event, and incident cases are characterized by a dismal prognosis.
PubMed: 35336074
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030499 -
International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2022Legionnaires' disease (LD) () is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in those requiring hospitalization. Geographical variation in the importance of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Legionnaires' disease (LD) () is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in those requiring hospitalization. Geographical variation in the importance of species as an aetiologic agent of CAP is poorly understood. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based observational studies that reported the proportion of infection in patients with CAP (1 January 1990 to 31 May 2020). Using five electronic databases, articles were identified, appraised and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Univariate and multivariate meta-regression analyses were conducted using study design, WHO region, study quality and healthcare setting as the explanatory variables. We reviewed 2778 studies, of which 219 were included in the meta-analysis. The mean incidence of CAP was 46.7/100,000 population (95% CI: 46.6-46.8). The mean proportion of as the causative agent for CAP was 4.6% (95% CI: 4.4 to 4.7). Consequently, the mean incidence rate was 2.8/100,000 population (95% CI: 2.7-2.9). There was significant heterogeneity across all studies = 99.27% ( < 0.0001). After outliers were removed, there was a decrease in the heterogeneity ( = 43.53%). contribution to CAP has a global distribution. Although the rates appear highest in high income countries in temperate regions, there are insufficient studies from low- and middle-income countries to draw conclusions about the rates in these regions. Nevertheless, this study provides an estimate of the mean incidence of infection in CAP, which could be used to estimate the regional and global burden of LD to support efforts to reduce the impact of this infection as well as to fill important knowledge gaps.
Topics: Community-Acquired Infections; Humans; Legionella; Legionella pneumophila; Legionellosis; Legionnaires' Disease; Pneumonia
PubMed: 35162928
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031907 -
Microorganisms Jan 2022() is a pathogenic bacterium of increasing concern, due to its ability to cause a severe pneumonia, Legionnaires' Disease (LD), and the challenges in controlling the... (Review)
Review
() is a pathogenic bacterium of increasing concern, due to its ability to cause a severe pneumonia, Legionnaires' Disease (LD), and the challenges in controlling the bacteria within premise plumbing systems. can thrive within the biofilm of premise plumbing systems, utilizing protozoan hosts for protection from environmental stressors and to increase its growth rate, which increases the bacteria's infectivity to human host cells. Typical disinfectant techniques have proven to be inadequate in controlling in the premise plumbing system, exposing users to LD risks. As the bacteria have limited infectivity to human macrophages without replicating within a host protozoan cell, the replication within, and egress from, a protozoan host cell is an integral part of the bacteria's lifecycle. While there is a great deal of information regarding how interacts with protozoa, the ability to use this data in a model to attempt to predict a concentration of in a water system is not known. This systematic review summarizes the information in the literature regarding 's growth within and egress from the host cell, summarizes the genes which affect these processes, and calculates how oxidative stress can downregulate those genes.
PubMed: 35056590
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010141 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2020The current systematic review investigates the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates from the 1980s to the present day, deriving data from clinical and/or water...
The current systematic review investigates the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates from the 1980s to the present day, deriving data from clinical and/or water samples from studies carried out all over the world. Eighty-nine papers meeting the inclusion criteria, i.e., "" and "resistance to antibiotics", were evaluated according to pre-defined validity criteria. Sixty articles referred to clinical isolates, and 18 articles reported water-related isolates, while 11 articles included both clinical and water isolates. Several methods have been proposed as suitable for the determination of MICs, such as the E-test, broth and agar dilution, and disk diffusion methods, in vivo and in vitro, using various media. The E-test method proposed by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (EUCAST) seems to be the second most frequently used method overall, but it is the preferred method in the most recent publications (2000-2019) for the interpretation criteria. Erythromycin has been proved to be the preference for resistance testing over the years. However, in the last 19 years, the antibiotics ciprofloxacin (CIP), erythromycin (ERM), levofloxacin (LEV) and azithromycin (AZM) were the ones that saw an increase in their use. A decrease in the sensitivity to antibiotics was identified in approximately half of the reviewed articles.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Erythromycin; Humans; Legionella pneumophila; Legionnaires' Disease; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 32796666
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165809 -
Head and Neck Pathology Jun 2020Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a benign, self-limiting histiocytosis of unknown etiology. The classic form of the condition includes a painless cervical lymphaenopathy...
Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a benign, self-limiting histiocytosis of unknown etiology. The classic form of the condition includes a painless cervical lymphaenopathy accompanied by fever, weight loss and an elevated ESR. Extra nodal RDD (ENRDD) is most frequent in the head and neck. Thirty-eight cases of ENRDD have been described. Seven cases of ENRDD were identified in our pathology biopsy services. The demographic and clinical information was tabulated logically on the basis of age, gender, location and presence or absence of symptoms, treatment and follow-up. Radiographic and histopathological features were also examined. The findings in these cases were correlated with those available from the previously reported cases. Six cases affected women and one case was diagnosed in a male. The age ranged from 22-55 years. Three cases presented as a nasal mass. One of these lesions extended into the paranasal sinuses. One case was located in the maxilla and extended to involve the maxillary sinus. Three cases were diagnosed in the mandible. The maxillary and one mandibular lesion (Case 2) resulted in significant painful irregular bone destruction with a non-healing socket and tooth mobility respectively. One mandibular lesion was asymptomatic (Case 6). The third case affecting the mandible presented as a rapidly expansile mass following a tooth extraction (Case 7). Nasal masses presented with symptoms of obstruction. Nasal masses were excised with no recurrence from up to 2-3 years of follow-up. The mandibular lesions were curetted aggressively. The oral mass in Case 7 was excised synchronously. No recurrence up to 2 years was recorded in Case 2. Follow-up information is not available for Cases 6 and 7. The maxillary lesion was not intervened surgically. The patient has persistent but stable disease for a follow-up period of 2 years. ENRDD is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis in the absence of lymph node involvement. Lesions of ENRDD resemble many other histiocytic and histiocyte-rich lesions of the head and neck. This makes the diagnosis of ENRDD challenging with the potential for under diagnosis or misdiagnosis and delay in treatment.
Topics: Adult; Female; Histiocytosis, Sinus; Humans; Jaw Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Nose Neoplasms; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms; Young Adult
PubMed: 31368076
DOI: 10.1007/s12105-019-01056-8 -
Ciencia & Saude Coletiva Mar 2019The scope of this paper is to review the available scientific literature about the effects on health of occupational exposure to Legionella spp. A systematic review of...
The scope of this paper is to review the available scientific literature about the effects on health of occupational exposure to Legionella spp. A systematic review of the scientific literature retrieved from the MEDLINE (via PubMed), ISI-Web of Science (Institute for Scientific Information), Cochrane Library, LILCAS and SCOPUS databases through February 2015 was conducted. The key words used were ««Legionnaires' Disease» «Legionellosis» «Occupational Exposure» «Occupational Diseases». Two hundred and twenty-two references were retrieved of which, after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 13 complete articles were selected. Of these, 9 describe pneumonia, 4 list Pontiac Fever, 1 reveals legionellosis and 3 result in death. The main causative agent of disease in workers exposed was Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Legionella spp infection is closely related to professions where there is nebulization with water, mainly among workers subjected to long exposure or even re-exposure. Outbreaks occurs seasonally, especially in the hottest months.
Topics: Adult; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Legionella; Legionella pneumophila; Legionellosis; Legionnaires' Disease; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 30892501
DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232018243.29272016