Legionnaire’s disease and COVID-19: Could Legionella be acting in conjunction with the Corona virus to aggravate the COVID-19 disease?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew John PENDERY
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Legionnaire's Disease ◽  
Legionnaire’S Disease

There are some striking similarities between Legionnaire’s disease and COVID-19. Thesymptoms, age group and sex at risk are identical. The geographical distribution of both diseases is similar in Europe overall, and within the USA, France and Italy. The environmental distributions are also similar. However Legionnaire’s disease is caused by Legionella bacteria while COVID-19 is caused by the Corona virus. Whereas COVID-19 is contagious, Legionnaire’s disease is environmental. Legionella bacteria are commonly found in drinking water systems and near air conditioning cooling towers. Legionnaire’sdisease is caught by inhaling contaminated water droplets. The Legionella bacteria does not spread person to person and only causes disease if it enters the lungs.Could the Corona virus be making it easier for Legionella bacteria to enter the lungs?

Waterborne epidemics in Finland in 1998-1999

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. T. Miettinen ◽  
O. Zacheus ◽  
C-H. von Bonsdorff ◽  
T. Vartiainen
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Water Plant ◽  
Public Water Systems

Fourteen waterborne epidemics occurred in Finland during 1998-1999. About 7,300 illness cases were registered in these outbreaks. All except one of the waterborne epidemics were associated with undisinfected groundwaters. An equal number of waterborne epidemics occurred in public and private water systems, but most cases of illness occurred in public water systems. The three largest epidemics comprised 6,700 illness cases. Insufficient purification treatment unable to remove Norwalk-like viruses caused the only waterborne epidemic in a surface water plant. The main reasons for groundwater outbreaks were floods and surface runoffs which contaminated water. Norwalk-like viruses caused eight and Campylobacter three of the outbreaks. In two cases the epidemic ceased by the exhaustion of susceptible persons in the exposed community but in most cases it was terminated by changing the water source, boiling the drinking water, and starting chlorination.

Paper 6: Some Basic Considerations in the Practice of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning

1967 ◽  
Vol 182 (5) ◽  
pp. 129-137
Author(s):  
W. H. Eccleston
Keyword(s):  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Thermal Capacity ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Space Heating ◽  
Noise Attenuation ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Steam Generation ◽  
Fuel Savings

This paper covers some of the basic considerations associated with the practice of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning in temperate climates. A diagrammatic representation of heat loss and gain for a room appears to provide a key to more accurate forecasting of fuel consumption for whole buildings. Further, the smaller the thermal capacity of the system and, therefore, the quicker the response rate, the larger is the possible scope for fuel savings. As far as space heating is concerned water systems are classified and there is reference to the more commonly used heat emitters and some of their characteristics. There is some reference to boiler power both for hot-water heating and steam generation. Ventilation is discussed in the context of terminal points; there is also a brief reference to noise attenuation in ducts and to balancing of systems. Air-conditioning is defined and the better known distribution methods are classified. Packaged water chillers are briefly examined and there are some suggestions regarding ‘mixing-units’. In addition there are some comments on cooling towers. In conclusion there is a plea for standardization and in this particular instance reference is made to specifications for mechanical services works.

Test method for evaluation of anti-scale devices for cooling condensers

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168
Author(s):  
J.B. Vestergaard
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Cooling Towers ◽  
Germination Time ◽  
Air System ◽  
Closed Systems ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

Can new types of anti-scaling devices prevent scaling on condensing pipes in industrial cooling condensers and supersede conventional water treatment? To examine this question a test method has been developed, test rigs have been built and different kinds of anti-scale devices have been tested. As cooling towers are based on an open-air system with evaporation of water they will have higher demands on the effectiveness of the anti-scale devices compared to the closed systems which are typical drinking water systems in buildings. The test method is based on an open-air system. The rigs are mobile and can be used to give an indication of whether it is possible to treat the local water with an anti-scale device. The result of the test is a scaling rate and a germination time. In addition to these tests the anti-scale devices have been tested in the field at cooling condensers.

Flavor Profile Analysis and GC/MS Detection of Phenolic Iodinated Disenfection Byproducts in Drinking Water for the USA Space Program

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Dietrich ◽  
Susan Mirlohi ◽  
Willian F. DaCosta ◽  
Jennifer Peters Dodd ◽  
Richard Sauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
Major Product ◽  
Space Program ◽  
Odor Threshold ◽  
Odor Evaluation ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Flavor Profile Analysis ◽  
Flavor Profile

Reactions of iodine and phenol were investigated to determine which iodophenols were produced and their odor properties. The research was performed in support of the USA space program that applies iodine to disinfect potable water for spacecraft use. Higher concentrations (50 mg/l) and higher iodine:phenol (e.g. 10:1) ratios resulted in the formation of greater iodophenol concentrations and higher substituted iodophenols. The reactions were fast and nearly complete within 1 hour. For pH 5.5 and 8 and all iodine:phenol ratios, formation of monosubstituted compounds indicated that 2-iodophenol was favored over 4-iodophenol. At the intermediate iodine:phenol ratios of 1:1 and 2:1, substantial amounts of the diiophenols formed and persisted for up to 32 days. The diiodophenols were not detected at iodine:phenol ratios of 0.2:1 and 10:1. The compound 2,4,6-triiodophenol was the major product formed at a 10:1 iodine:phenol ratio and the formation of this trisubstituted phenol appeared nearly complete. Odor evaluation indicated that the iodophenols have much lower odor threshold concentrations (OTC) than phenol. The 2- and 4- iodophenol had OTC values of ≅ 1 and 500 μg/l, respectively, with odors described as “medicinal, phenol, chemical”.

Legionnaire’s Disease

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 592-598
Author(s):  
Andreas F. Widmer
Keyword(s):  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Legionnaire's Disease ◽  
Legionnaire’S Disease ◽  
Legionella Micdadei

Legionellen sind Wasserkeime und können zwei typische Krankheitsbilder auslösen: Das Pontiac-Fieber und die Legionärskrankheit. Letztere ist eine seltene (3–7%), potentiell lebensbedrohliche Pneumonie. In fast allen Fällen ist Legionella pneumophila Serogruppe I für die Pneumonie verantwortlich. Es gibt aber 42 Arten und 64 Serotypen, wobei Legionella micdadei der zweithäufigste Erreger ist. Die Letalität der Legionellenpneumonie liegt immer noch um 5% bis 10% und ist bei hospitalisierten Patienten höher. Etablierte Risiken sind Nikotinabusus, chronisch-obstruktive Pneumopathie, sowie Immunsuppression. Die Kultur bedingt Spezialnährmedien, so dass die Diagnose nicht mit Routinemethoden gestellt werden kann. Die Einführung des Antigentestes im Urin hat die Diagnostik wesentlich verbessert. Eine PCR für Sputum ergänzt die neuen diagnostischen Möglichkeiten, wobei hier die Kosten und die Spezifität die Anwendung auf Spezialfälle einschränkt. Therapie der Wahl sind neuere Makrolide oder alternativ neuere Quinolone, die sich vor allem bei transplantierten Patienten auch als Therapie der ersten Wahl durchgesetzt haben. Die Primärprävention umfasst das Halten der Warmwasserversorgung am Boiler bei 60°C, und an Hähnen zwei Minuten nach Öffnen 50°C.

scholarly journals Preventing leaching from lead water pipes with electrochemistry: an exploratory study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Pablo Lobo ◽  
Ashok Gadgil
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Effective Solution ◽  
Water Pipes ◽  
The Us ◽  
Public Drinking Water ◽  
Lead Leaching ◽  
Pipe Replacement

Toxic levels of lead leaching from ageing water distribution infrastructure affect over 5,000 public drinking water systems in the US. Pipe replacement, the most effective solution to this problem, is...

Reduction of Salmonella Excretion into Drinking Water Following Treatment of Chicks with Nurmi Culture

1981 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 917-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. STERSKY ◽  
B. BLANCHFIELD ◽  
C. THACKER ◽  
H. PIVNICK
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Salmonella Typhimurium ◽  
Gallus Domesticus ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Salmonella Infection

Day-old chicks (Gallus domesticus) were treated with cultured feces of adult chickens according to the Nurmi concept and were challenged 2 days later with Salmonella typhimurium. Treated chicks were less susceptible to infection than untreated chicks (16% vs. 79% infected). Those treated chicks that did become infected, contaminated their drinking water with fewer Salmonella than the untreated chicks (maximum of 104/ml vs. ⩾ 107/ml). Fecally contaminated water may be a major source for spreading Salmonella infection within a flock.

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