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Recommended precautions for patients with Legionnaires' Disease
Infection Control : IC
|September 1, 1982
Summary
Increased recognition of Legionnaires' Disease, particularly hospital-acquired Legionella pneumophila, raises concerns about transmission. However, evidence suggests waterborne sources are primary, not person-to-person spread, advising against special precautions.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Diagnostic techniques for Legionella species are more accessible, increasing recognition of Legionnaires' Disease.
- Hospital-acquired Legionella pneumophila cases are rising, prompting concerns about potential person-to-person transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the risk of person-to-person transmission of Legionella pneumophila in hospital settings.
- To inform recommendations for patient precautions during hospitalization for Legionnaires' Disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiologic investigations and documented sources of Legionella infections.
- Assessment of evidence supporting person-to-person transmission versus environmental sources.
Main Results:
- Water has been consistently implicated as the primary source in identified epidemiologic investigations.
- Convincing documentation of person-to-person transmission of Legionella is lacking.
Conclusions:
- Expensive or inconvenient special precautions for hospitalized patients with Legionnaires' Disease are discouraged.
- Secretion precautions are recommended until effective antimicrobial therapy eradicates the organism, addressing potential environmental exposure risks.