[Legionelosis en España, 2010-2015]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Legionellosis, a bacterial respiratory illness, originates in community or hospital environments, often linked to water systems.
• The most frequent clinical presentation is Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the temporal trends and epidemiological characteristics of legionellosis cases in Spain between 2010 and 2015.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, time-series study was conducted using legionellosis case data notified to the Spanish National Epidemiology Center.
• Data were analyzed by sex, autonomous community, month, and age group.

Main Results:

• Men represented more than double the number of cases compared to women.
• Nine autonomous communities reported an increase in cases, with peaks in Castilla y León, Navarra, and the Basque Country.
• A seasonal trend was observed, with an epidemic peak from July to September, and a higher incidence in individuals aged 50 and above.

Conclusions:

• Legionellosis, despite its relatively low prevalence, significantly impacts public health in Spain.
• The disease distribution is widespread and uneven across Spain, with a notable increase in cases during the final two years of the study period.
• Enhanced disease prevention and control strategies are recommended to mitigate the public health burden of legionellosis.