Legionella pneumophila
June 12, 2015
Legionella is a Gram negative pathogen bacterium in the species of L. pneumophila that causes legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease. The name originates from the American Legion convention in Philadelphia, USA, where the outbreak first happened in 1976.
In Indonesia, it was first found in Bali in 1996. Almost all reported cases in Indonesia originates from Bali (one report was from Tangerang in 1999). This is intelligible since the bacteria are mostly found in hotels and Bali, as the center of tourism, has more than 2000 of them. Another significant place where this bacteria grow is in hospitals. Buildings that have cooling towers, humidifiers, decorative fountains, spas, and other aquatic environments are also the source of legionella.
Legionnaires’ disease can affect anyone, but mainly affects elderly people and people with low immunity system.
The main purpose of this seminar is to increase awareness of this disease. It is possible that a number of cases in the field are much higher than reported. Jakarta, for example, is also home to many hotels, hospitals, and especially buildings in general. Regular inspection must be conducted to prevent this disease from spreading.
Tags : legionella , pneumophila , bacteria , disease , legionellosis
