LEGIONARY DISEASE-PREVENTIVE AND ANTI-EPIDEMIC MEASURES AND THE ROLE OF THE SANITARY PROFESSION IN IMPLEMENTING MEASURES

Legioneloza je bolest koju uzrokuje bakterija Legionella a najčešća je Legionella pneumophila. Bakterije roda Legionella su gram negativne bakterije s tankom staničnom stijenkom. Legionella pneumophila je gram negativni oportunistički unutarstanični patogen koji uzrokuje Legionarsku bolest. Legioneloza može biti blaga bolest febrilnog stanja poput pontijačke groznice pa sve do mogućeg smrtonosnog oblika upale pluća kao što je Legionarska bolest. Legionella pneumophila se nalazi u vodi, može se nalaziti u jezerima, barama, rijekama te u svim sustavima za vodoopskrbu. Legionarska bolest prenosi se udisanjem aerosola u kojemu se nalazi uzročnik, stoga se Legionella pneumophila može naći i u rashladnim uređajima, uređajima za sušenje ruku, tuševima, u cijevima za vodu sa slijepim završetcima. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati provedenog programa u kojem su se uzorkovali uzorci pitke vode te vode za ljudsku potrošnju iz vodoopskrbnog sustava pojedinih objekata u svrhu prevencije i provođenja protuepidemijskih mjera u slučaju pojavnosti Legionella spp. U uzorcima vodoopskrbnog sustava dokazana je Legionella pneumophila što ukazuje na potrebu daljnjeg provođenja monitoringa prisustva ove bakterije u vodoopskrbnom sustavu. U objektima gdje je detektirana prisutnost ove bakterije , provodile su se mjere pasterizacije i hiperkloriranja.Legionellosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Legionella and the most common is Legionella pneumophila. Bacteria of the genus Legionella are gram-negative bacteria with a thin cell wall. Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative opportunistic intracellular pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease. Legionellosis can be a mild febrile illness such as Pontian fever and a possible fatal form of pneumonia such as Legionnaires' disease. Legionella pneumophila is found in water, can be found in lakes, ponds, rivers and in all water supply systems. Legionnaires' disease is transmitted by inhalation of the aerosol in which the causative agent is located, so Legionella pneumophila can also be found in refrigeration devices, hand dryers, showers, in water pipes with blind ends. This final work presents the results of a program in which samples of drinking water and water for human consumption were sampled from the water supply system of individual facilities for the purpose of prevention and implementation of anti-epidemic measures in case of Legionella spp. Further monitoring of the presence of this bacterium in the water supply system is needed. In facilities where the presence of this bacterium was detected, pasteurization and hyperchlorination measures were applye