If you plan to work in the country next weekend, be extremely careful..

Working with compost and standing water puts you at risk of legionellosis, a dangerous bacterial infection that attacks the lungs and kills 1 in 10.

Legionnaires 'disease, or Legionnaires' disease, is most commonly caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, which lives in ponds, lakes and artificial storage facilities with fresh water.

Legionnaires' disease develops when infected particles enter the respiratory tract of a person. Transmission with food and from a sick person is unlikely. Often, the disease develops after taking a summer shower in summer cottages, swimming in ponds, and even after using air conditioning systems in hotels and offices.

Legionella is found wherever there are artificial water reservoirs and irrigation systems.

The bacterium thrives at temperatures from +20 to + 50C, so summer is its time.

Although most people do not get legionellosis, the susceptibility to infection is especially high in smokers with COPD, as well as in those with immunodeficiency..

In the United States alone, 5,000 cases of legionellosis are reported annually, and about half a thousand people die.. The incidence in America quadrupled from 2000 to 2014, which is associated with improvements in laboratory diagnostics.

In Russia, stingy statistics are limited to dozens of cases per year. This is easily explained by insufficient use of laboratory methods.. Unfortunately, even today, Legionnaires' disease is difficult to diagnose and is treated like a common pneumonia..

The best diagnostic methods are ELISA and PCR analysis.. The PCR method allows you to detect legionella of any serological groups in smears, sputum, pleural fluid.

The clinical picture of legionellosis.

After an incubation period of 2-10 days, symptoms occur:.

- High temperature (sometimes above 40C).

- Severe chills, headache and muscle pain.

- Confusion of consciousness, agitation.

- Severe dry cough In some cases, legionellosis begins with minor aches and headaches, and other symptoms join only after 1-2 days.

Against the background of a weakened immune defense (especially in obstructive pulmonary diseases), the bacterium rapidly colonizes lung tissue. Shortness of breath, severe dry cough, chest pain. Later, sputum discharge begins, sometimes hemoptysis.

Approximately 30-35% of people with legionellosis have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Gastrointestinal symptoms are accompanied by a severely reduced appetite.

At the peak of a fever, a mental disorder, delirium, agitation is possible.

New threat in summer cottage compost.

The lesser known causative agent of legionellosis is the bacterium Legionella longbeachae.

First isolated in 1980 from a patient in Long Beach, California, the bacterium loves compost heaps and well-fertilized soil.. Studies show that Legionella longbeachae is able to enter the body both by inhalation and by ingestion of contaminated particles.

In a recent study, Professor Patricia Priest and her colleagues at the University of Otago in New Zealand have identified new risk factors for legionellosis. The threat of summer cottage compost is reported on the pages of the CDC magazine Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The study included 31 adult patients. All patients were hospitalized with laboratory confirmed Legionella longbeachae infection. The control group consisted of 172 healthy volunteers corresponding to age criteria.

Over the course of two summer seasons, participants filled out questionnaires in which they reported on their attitudes towards smoking, existing diseases, lifestyle, hobbies, and working with fertilizers..

Analysis of questionnaires showed: gardening is the most important risk factor for Legionnaires' disease.

Nearly all affected participants indicated that they worked with the soil in contact with compost fertilizers in the three weeks prior to hospitalization..

Scientists say that the best way to prevent this infection is to thoroughly clean your hands after handling fertilizers.. Face shields appear to be ineffective.

Other risk factors are unlikely to surprise doctors: smoking and obstructive pulmonary disease.

Based on the results of the study, Professor Priest recommends that summer residents strictly follow the rules of hygiene and be careful with compost.. With a weakened immune system and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it is wiser to refrain from risky contacts.

“We advise you to carefully work with fertilizers. Open bags farther from your face, never try to sniff the mixture, hold it with outstretched arms. Be sure to wash your hands after working with compost fertilizers before touching your face, ”urges Priest.

medbe. ru.