Legionnaires’ Disease
A problem for health care facilities
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Legionnaires’ disease is a risk in health care facilities across the United States, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. Unfortunately, this serious bacterial lung infection is deadly for 1 in 4 people who get it from a health care facility.
Unlike most respiratory infections, Legionnaires’ disease is generally not spread from person to person — people usually get it by breathing in water droplets containing Legionella germs. Many people being treated at health care facilities, including long-term care facilities and hospitals, have conditions that put them at greater risk of getting sick and dying from Legionnaires’ disease.
Other key highlights from the Vital Signs report include:
- People definitely got Legionnaires’ disease from a health care facility in 76% of locations reporting exposures in 2015
- Most problems leading to US health care-associated outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease could be prevented with effective water management
- When someone does get Legionnaires’ disease from a stay in a health care facility, early recognition and action can help prevent more infections
CDC is urging health care facility leaders to protect patients from Legionnaires’ disease by focusing on prevention and early recognition. A key action regarding prevention is creating and using a water management program to limit Legionella from growing and spreading in their building water systems. Testing patients who develop pneumonia after a stay in a health care facility for Legionnaires’ disease is important for recognizing a problem. Early recognition allows facility leadership and local public health authorities to investigate and prevent further infections.
Illustration of Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium that causes the majority of Legionnaires’ disease cases and outbreaks.
Effective water management programs routinely consist of a number of steps focused on reducing the risk of Legionella germs growing and spreading in building water systems.
In 2015, people definitely got Legionnaires’ disease from a health care facility in 16 of 21 locations (76%) reporting exposures. Many jurisdictions were not included in this report because they reported complete information, such as exposure to a health care facility, for less than 90% of Legionella infections.
See how one example health care facility worked to protect patients from Legionnaires’ disease with prevention and early recognition.
People usually get Legionnaires’ disease, a type of serious pneumonia (lung infection), by breathing in small droplets of water that contain Legionella germs. People can also get it if contaminated water accidentally goes into the lungs while drinking.
Legionnaires’ disease is very similar to other types of pneumonia (lung infection), with symptoms that include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches.
Legionella lives in natural sources of water, but can become a health problem in human-made water systems. Reducing Legionella growth (called amplification) and spread to people when they inhale water droplets (called aerosols) is important for lowering the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.
76% - People definitely got Legionnaires’ disease from a health care facility in 76% of locations reporting exposures.
1 in 4 - Legionnaires’ disease kills 25% of those who get it from a health care facility.
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4 in 5 - Most problems leading to US health-care-associated Legionnaires' diseases outbreaks could be prevented with effective water management.
A CDC microbiologist pours water samples from a building experiencing a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak into a filtration system to test for Legionella.
A CDC microbiologist examines a plate for Legionella growth.
Water samples from a building experiencing a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak are unpacked at CDC’s Legionella Laboratory.
CDC scientists in the Legionella laboratory prepare equipment to perform whole genome sequencing of Legionella pneumophila isolated from environmental samples.
Legionella pneumophila, a bacterium that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, growing on specialized microbiological media (BCYE).
Cooling towers, which are often part of the air conditioning systems of large buildings, are a common source of Legionella exposure in outbreaks. Cooling towers need to be properly maintained in order to prevent Legionnaires’ disease.
Testing water samples from buildings for Legionella is an important part of investigating Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks.
Legionella can grow in many parts of water systems in buildings, including water heaters.
Collecting environmental samples can help disease detectives determine the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.
Contact Information
CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
media@cdc.gov
Factsheet:
Spokespersons
Anne Schuchat, MD expanded
“Legionnaires’ disease in hospitals is widespread, deadly, and preventable. These data are especially important for health care facility leaders, doctors, and facility managers because it reminds them to think about the risks of Legionella in their facility and to take action. Controlling these bacteria in water systems can be challenging, but it is essential to protect patients.”
Anne Schuchat, MD – Principal Deputy Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Rear Admiral, U.S. Public Health Service; EIS Officer, Class of 1988
CAPT Nancy Messonnier, MD collapsed
CAPT Cynthia Whitney, MD, MPH collapsed
Sujan Reddy, MD, MSc collapsed
CDR Jasen Kunz, MPH, REHS/RS collapsed
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- Page last reviewed: June 6, 2017
- Page last updated: June 6, 2017
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