306
As it is known,
Legionella
bacteria (which habitat is water) can live
in nature without causing any problem to the human being. However,
they cause concern for Legal Science, especially when their propagation
(airborne) results from anthropic action and can cause harm to health or
human life.
Among the harms these bacteria can cause in the human being, there is
the legionellosis, which is the type of disease caused by
Legionella
bacteria
“lato sensu”, which includes both the most serious disease (which is the
pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease
1
) and other less harmful diseases
(such as Pontiac fever
2
and Lochogoilheade fever
3
).
Only the Legionnaires’ disease
4
will be studied in this work, as it is the
most severe disease caused by the bacterium
5
Legionella
.
Legionella
bacteria can cause or contribute for presenting an acute
respiratory disease that can cause death. Travelers are statistically who are
most exposed to this acute respiratory disease.
6
The Legionnaires’ disease is known as the most common acute form of
pneumonia, which can affect 5% of those presenting pneumonia and more
than 30% of the nosocomial pneumonia cases. Mortality is of about 10%,
and it is from 30% to 50% for patients with immunity issues or those who
present a delay in diagnosis.
7
These are the symptoms of the Legionnaires’ disease: fever
8
, cough,
myalgias, anorexia, and headache. The fever frequently exceeds 40º degrees
Celsius. There is also a sodium concentration higher than or equal to 130
mmol per liter. Gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea, occur in 20%
to 40% of the cases.
9
