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although they’re quick to say they’re not microbiologists.
They gave us the run down on these pathogens.
Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaires Disease, a
pneumonia-like illness treatable with antibiotics, but
deadly to people with compromised health. It reproduces
at temperatures between 20-45°C and is present in water
around the world. Numerous studies can be found, which
indicate Legionella bacteria can be detected in up to 30%
of water systems. The Rada team carried out their own
investigation and found the presence of Legionella bacteria
in 9 out of 97 domestic houses tested.
In Australia, Legionnaires outbreaks are fairly frequent.
While the most common source of infection is cooling
towers, people have also been infected via internal water
systems. One of Australia’s first recorded outbreaks in 1979
was traced back to showers in a psychiatric hospital, in 2013,
two patients at Wesley Hospital died from Legionnaires
Disease contracted from the water system and as recently
as April 2015, a patient died at Hervey Bay hospital.
Pseudomonas are a more recent development.
“Pseudomonas is the name given to a diverse range of
many varied species, but it is pseudomonas aeruginosa
in particular, which presents the highest risk to humans,”
Steve says. “If you’re healthy with a strong immune system,
not frail or elderly, then you are really unlikely to have a
problem with pseudomonas aeruginosa.”
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is, therefore, only really a problem
in hospitals and aged care facilities – but that in and of
itself is a problem. As people with weaker immune systems
provide a host for the bacteria to multiply, they’re treated with
antibiotics – and while the infection is ultimately defeated,
some of the bacteria develop a resistance to the drugs.
“In hospitals, it’s now possible to have micro organisms
that are multi-drug resistant. And they’re the ones that will
become nasty and problematic,” Steve explains. “That’s why,
I think, it’s escalated and will probably continue to escalate,
and why it’s now such a hot topic.”
Pseudonomas are currently present in many Australian
hospitals.
Legionella and pseudomonas – like many other bacteria
– gain a foothold through biofilm. Some bacteria will land
inside a fitting or pipe, form a biofilm and offer a foothold
for other bacteria. As the biofilm strengthens, larger
microorganisms – like amoebas and protozoans – arrive
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