307
Contaminationmay occur by inhaling an aerosol contaminatedwith the
bacterium or by microaspirating contaminants while drinking water.
10/11/12
People older than 65 years old
13
, obstinate smokers, people that have
already undergone organ transplants, people with precarious immunity,
and those who are given corticoids
14
are deemed as the risk group.
15
These places are considered as favoring contamination: hospitals,
hotels, homes, shopping centers, and concert halls. This happens because
the sources for propagating
Legionella
bacteria (such as hot water fixtures,
water transference equipment for air currents, cooling towers, water steam
condensers, heat radiators, water deposits, air conditioner ducts, therapeutic
pools, sources, water treatment devices, steam production equipment,
nasogastric tubes, among others) can be located at those environments.
Therefore, most disease cases occur in environments modified by
humans and used for work, short-term activities, or leisure.
Thus, there is a great incidence of Legionnaires’ disease, in spite of
those data neither being reported nor accounted, at least in Brazil, where
the disease does not require mandatory notification.
16
In spite of their significance, the diseases caused by this bacterium are
many times unknown or neglected.
Therefore, some preventive and repressive legal instruments related to
the Legionnaires’ disease will be seen.
In Brazil, there are many unnecessary risks for health and life of human
beings. Findings indicating that the environment where human beings live,
work, trade, and enjoy leisure can be contaminated with
Legionella
bacteria,
must generate immediate acts by everyone, including public authorities and
private parties, as the risk of death by Legionnaires’ disease is still high.
