CategoriesBacteria

Legionella

Legionella live within amoebae in the natural environment. Legionella species are the cause of the human Legionnaires' disease and the lesser form, Pontiac fever. Legionella transmission happens via aerosols — the inhalation of mist droplets containing the bacteria. Common sources include: cooling towers, swimming pools (especially in Scandinavian countries), domestic hot-water systems, fountains, and similar disseminators that tap into a public water supply. Natural sources of Legionella include freshwater ponds and creeks. Person-to-person transmission of Legionella has not been demonstrated.

Once inside a host, incubation may take up to two weeks. Initial symptoms are flu-like and include: fever, chills, and dry cough. Advanced stages of the disease cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system and typically lead to diarrhea and nausea. Another advanced symptoms can be pneumonia.

The disease is rarely a threat to healthy individuals and the more advanced, harmful symptoms usually only occur to those with a compromised immune system and the elderly. According to the journal, "Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology," hospital-acquired Legionella pneumonia has a fatality rate of 28% and the source is the water distribution system. Legionella does not grow well in water below 78F and above 124F. Ozone is also an extremely effective oxidiaing biocide for cooling towers, fountains and spas treatment.

In the United States, the disease affects between 8,000 to 18,000 individuals a year.

This Quantum Formula antidotes the various species in the Legionella genus.