Legionella pneumophila: un patógeno emergente en Argentina / Legionella pneumophila: an emerging pathogen in Argentina

La enfermedad del Legionario es causada por bacterias pertenecientes al género Legionella, siendo la especie pneumophila el principal agente etiológico de esta patología. Esta bacteria se describió por primera vez en 1977 como causa de un brote de neumonía grave registrado en 1976 en un centro de convenciones en los Estados Unidos de América. La enfermedad se presenta como una neumonía atípica, responsable del 1 al 15 % de los casos de neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad (NAC), del 5 al 10% de neumonías del adulto y del 1% en menores de 15 años. Los miembros de la familia Legionellaceae son bacilos aeróbicos gramnegativos que crecen lentamente y se encuentran ampliamente distribuidos en cuerpos de agua. La forma más común de transmisión de Legionella spp es la inhalación de aerosoles contaminados generados a partir de fuentes de agua artificiales. Se asocian con la aparición de brotes esporádicos y epidémicos en la comunidad y en infecciones nosocomiales. Las especies pertenecientes al género Legionella se consideran patógenos emergentes transmitidos por el agua. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una revisión sobre las manifestaciones y presentaciones clínicas de la infección causada por L. pneumophila, en virtud de que es considerado mundialmente un patógeno emergente y por existir evidencias de su presencia en sistemas de almacenamiento de agua tratada en la región nordeste de la República Argentina, razón primordial para alertar y actualizar conocimientos al respecto

Legionnaires' disease is caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Legionella, being the pneumophila specie the main etiological agent of this pathology. This bacterium was first described in 1977 as the cause of a severe pneumonia outbreak in 1976 at a convention center in the United States of America. The disease presents as an atypical pneumonia, responsible for 1% to 15% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), 5% to 10% of pneumonia in adults and 1% in children under 15 years of age. Members of the Legionellaceae family are aerobic, gram-negative rods that grow slowly and are widely distributed in water bodies. The most common way of transmission of Legionella spp is the inhalation of contaminated aerosols generated from artificial water sources. They are associated with the appearance of sporadic and epidemic outbreaks in the community and in nosocomial infections. Species belonging to the genus Legionella are considered emerging waterborne pathogens.The aim of this work is to carry out a review on the manifestations and clinical presentations of the infection caused by L. pneumophila, due to that it is considered an emerging pathogen worldwide and because there is evidence of its presence in storage systems of treated water in the Northeast region of the Argentine Republic, primary reason to alert and update knowledge in this regard.

Cumplimiento de los protocolos de prevención de la legionelosis en edificios públicos / Legionnaires' disease prevention protocol performance in public buildings

Objetivo Investigar la relación entre el cumplimiento del Real Decreto 865/2003 y el Decreto 287/2002, por los que se establecen los criterios higiénico-sanitarios para la prevención y control de la legionelosis, y el riesgo debido a un deficiente mantenimiento higiénico- preventivo de las instalaciones de agua. Métodos Estudio descriptivo realizado en la provincia de Málaga (España) sobre una muestra correspondiente a 214 edificios públicos, 83 variables e interpretación sobre el porcentaje de cumplimiento de la normativa. Medida del riesgo, definición de clusters (tipificación del riesgo), estimadores clásicos y robustos, estimación jackknife e intervalos de confianza bootstrap . Resultados Riesgo por incumplimiento parcial entre el 11,1 (riego, Centros Privados de ESO) y 85,7 por ciento (AFS, Institutos de Educación Secundaria). La normativa se cumple en 82 edificios, 130 la incumplen y 2 no presentan instalaciones de riesgo. Cumplimiento total 38 por ciento. Estimación para el cumplimiento parámetros de localización 0,33-0,36 (33-36 por ciento) y de escala 0,11-0,16. Estimador jackknife del sesgo reducido 0,35071 (estimación media). Intervalos de confianza bootstrap con extremos [0.26, 0.47]. Conclusión El menor riesgo por incumplimiento parcial corresponde a Institutos de Educación Secundaria y el mayor por distribución a los hoteles de cuatro y tres estrellas. Selección del parámetro de localización estimador de Huber y de escala NMAD . Atendiendo al parámetro "razón poblacional" y estimador "razón muestral", el estimador jackknife del sesgo reducido es insesgado. Intervalos de confianza basados en las técnicas bootstrap , partiendo de la media 0,2- recortada muestral y coeficiente de confianza 0,95, muy aproximados.

Objective Studying the relationship between fulfilment of royal decree 865/2003 and decree 287/2002 (establishing hygienic-sanitary criteria for preventing and controlling Legionnaires' disease) and risk arising from deficient preventative-hygienic water facility maintenance. Methods This was a descriptive study carried out in the province of Málaga (Spain) on a sample of 214 public buildings using 83 variables and interpreting legislation fulfilment percentages. Risks were measured, clusters defined (related to risk typification) and classic and robust estimators, jack-knife estimation and bootstrap confidence intervals were calculated. Results 11.1 percent (irrigation, ESO private centres) and 85.7 percent (AFS, secondary education institutions) partial non-fulfilment/breach risks were found. Eighty-two buildings complied with current standards, 130 failed to fulfil them and 2 did not display risk facilities. There was 38 percent overall compliance with established norms. Location parameter fulfilment was estimated as being 0.33-0.36 (3336 percent) and scale as 0.110.16. Reduced bias jack-knife estimator was 0.35071 (average estimation). Bootstrap confidence interval extremes were 0.26 and 0.47. Conclusion Secondary education institutions represented the least risk due to partial noncompliance and four- and three-star hotels the greatest. Huber estimator was selected as location parameter and NMAD as scale parameter. Regarding the population ratio parameter and sample ratio estimator, it was considered that the jack-knife estimator of reduced bias was unbiased. Confidence intervals based on bootstrap techniques (starting from 0.2trimmed mean sample and a 0.95 confidence coefficient) were very approximate.

Doença dos legionários: uma revisão / Legionnaire's disease: a review

A doença dos legionários é uma patologia autolimitada semelhante à gripe, caracterizada por febre, cefaléia, mialgias e tosse não produtiva, estando, algumas vezes, relacionada com formas fatais de pneumonia. Tem como etiologia a infecção pela bactéria Legionella sp. Atualmente são conhecidas cerca de 40 espécies de Legionella, mas apenas cinco causam a doença em humanos.Legionella pneumophila é a principal espécie relacionada a casos em humanos. As legionelas encontram-se freqüentemente em reservatórios de água e crescem em água quente. Os sistemas de distribuição de água quente e as torres de resfriamento dos equipamentos de ar condicionado são identificados como as principais fontes de infecção. Vários testes laboratoriais estão disponíveis para o diagnóstico de legionela, incluindo cultura, aglutinação em lâmina com partículas de látex, radioimunoensaio, imunofluorescência direta e indireta e enzimaimunoensaio. O objetivo principal da vigilância da doença do legionário é a identificação de surtos, de forma a implementar medidas de controle. O presente trabalho descreve uma revisão sobre a doença dos legionários, visando a ampliar o conhecimento dos profissionais da saúde e da população em geral.

Legionnaire’s disease is a self-limiting pathology. Similar to cold, it is characterized by fever, headache, myalgias and non-productive cough, and sometimes connected with fatal pneumonia. Its etiology to infection is done through bacteria Legionella spp. Presently, about forty types of Legionella are known, but only five of them can cause disease to human beings. Legionella pneumphila is the main type related to human beings. Legionellas are usually found in water reservoirs, and grow in hot water. Both hot water distribution systems and air-conditioner tower cooling are identified as the main sources of infection. Many laboratory tests are available for Legionella diagnosis, including culture, agglutination on blade containing latex particles radioimmunoassay, direct and indirect immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The main objective in checking legionnaire’s disease is to identify outbreaks, aiming at implementing control measurements. This article describes a review of legionnaire’s disease, intending to enlarge health professional and ordinary people’s knowledge on the field.