177
follow ASHRAE guidelines that should become standards in 2011.
In Colombia and in most countries of Latin America, the problems
associated with
Legionella
are unknown to most people, because of the
little knowledge we have on this pathogen. The statistics of mortality data
legionellosis are nonexistent, but instead pneumonia mortality data are
quite alarming and costing the healthcare system an important part of its
budget .
Statistics of Colombia.
The numbers of deaths per 100,000 habitants in Colombia correspond
to 15.14 % from respiratory infections which 11% are due to
Legionella
.
That means we should estimate around 2 per 100,000 deaths of pneumonia
associated to
Legionella
bacteria.
Bacterial pneumonia associatedwith
Legionellapneumophila
is adisease
acquired through direct inhalation of water droplets or aerosolized water
contaminated with the bacteria. The filtration system of the human body
consisting of the nose, the larynx and into the lungs can not retain particles
smaller than 10 microns, the reason why water contaminated aerosol can
directly enter the lungs and then start process contamination. The infection
is well related to the responsiveness of the immune system of each host
and this is why people in good health are less vulnerable to developing
the disease. According to the WHO (World Health Organization) there is
certain susceptibility factors aggravating classified as follows:
• Increasing age (> 40 years)
• Gender Men 74% (21-87 years) / 26% Female (24-75 years)
