Outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Rzeszów in 2023. / Ognisko choroby legionistów w Rzeszowie w 2023 roku.

BACKGROUND: Legionnaires' disease is a type of severe pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. The case fatality rate in this disease is 5-10%. People with various comorbidities, smokers and the elderly are at greater risk of developing the disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the work is to present the results of an epidemiological investigation into the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that occurred in the city of Rzeszów and the surrounding area in August and September 2023 and to present the threat related to the presence of Legionella bacteria in water supply installations and networks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material for this publication was data from an epidemiological investigation conducted in the outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Rzeszów in 2023. RESULTS: Epidemiological investigation revealed 165 cases of Legionnaires' disease in the outbreak, including 152 confirmed cases and 13 probable cases. The case fatality rate in a legionellosis outbreak was 15%. Environmental tests were carried out in residential and public buildings and industrial installations during the investigation. As part of environmental tests, 187 water samples were collected, including 87 warm water samples. CONCLUSIONS: The outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city of Rzeszów draws attention to the potential threat from the Legionella bacteria to the health and life of especially elderly people suffering from chronic diseases. The environmental tests carried out confirmed the highest number of Legionella bacteria at medium and high levels in water samples taken in the private apartments of sick people. Despite the lack of strict legal regulations clearly specifying the obligations regarding periodic disinfection of internal hot water supply installations, cooperation with their owners should be undertaken to enforce plans and actions in this area.

[The change in reproductive ability of male mice exposed to vinblastine and X-rays]. / Zmiany w zdolnosciach reprodukcyjnych samców myszy narazonych na dzialanie winblastyny i promieniowania X.

The effects of male mice to vinblastine (VBL) and combined X-rays-vinblastine treatments on the sperm quantity and quality, fertility and induction of foetal deaths and congenital malformations in the offspring were investigated. VBL and combined X-rays-VBL exposure caused decrease in testes weight and sperm count as well as increased percent of abnormal spermatozoa. Both vinblastine and X-rays-vinblastine combination induced increase in frequency of DNA single strand breaks in germ cells. The highest dose of VBL induced decrease of percent of pregnant females, decrease of live foetuses and induction of dominant lethal mutations after exposure some stages of spermatogenesis. Combined exposure to low doses of X-rays and vinblastine enhanced the frequency of dead implants. After exposure to VBL on its own as well as to combination of low doses of both agents increase in the frequency of congenital malformations was not observed.