Holiday Fun Can Turn Sad

Hot water bath was chosen as a place to relax with loved ones. However, what would happen if all the plans to spend the holiday was marred by a bunch of micro-organism named Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium that causes contamination of pool water? Effect of micro-organism attack this one can be fatal to human health. As many as 50-30 percent of cases of attacks Legionella micro-organism can cause death. Likely Legionella bacteria threat of attack is considered serious enough by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Health has sent a circular to district / city and offender services to tourism businesses wary of progression of the disease caused by Legionella bacteria.

Swimming pool fun. (Picture from: http://swimmingpoolscom.com/

Legionella bacteria are found naturally in sea water, fresh water, rivers, lakes, hot springs, and puddles of water. This bacterium can also grow well and live in the water tower on the air conditioning system temperature of 24°C, a spa, hot spring pools, fountains are not maintained properly, or bin of water on hot water systems in homes. No exception, where the rusty water, dust, crusty, and can be found on hospital equipment such as breathing apparatus.

Neglected water systems can end up looking like this and be at risk of colonisation by legionella bacteria. (Picture from: http://www.mercian-environmental.co.uk/)

Several suspected cases of Legionellosis reported disease outbreaks have occurred in Bali (1996) and Jakarta (1999). Based on the results of a survey conducted in 2001 on the water tower cooling systems in hotels in Jakarta and Denpasar, nearly 90 percent were found to have contaminated with Legionella bacteria. However, the condition has not been established as an absolute case of Legionellosis outbreak. At that time, the government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Health only conduct investigations and rigorous disinfection measures on the places suspected to be the source of transmission of Legionellosis.

What is the Alleged Plague Legionella Bacteria in Bali? (Picture from: http://www.bali-blog.info/)

Legionella bacteria, including group pneumophilla rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria can grow at an optimum temperature of 30°C-45°C. Legionella bacteria are able to live in the pipes made from rubber and plastic that has moss, is also resistant to chlorine with a chlorine concentration of 2-6 mg/l. In fact, the concentration of chlorine used for swimming pools are usually only reached 0.6 to 0.8 mg/l. These conditions should be wary. Required disinfection process control systems adequate to Legionella bacteria populations did not become a fatal threat to human health.

One thing to note, Legionellosis disease can not be transmitted from human to human. Legionella bacteria can infect humans through the medium of air or if we are not accidentally drink the water that already contains Legionella. People who have a greater risk of contracting Legionellosis is the elderly, smokers, people who have chronic lung disease, or people with weakened immune systems.

Several types of laboratory tests can be used to detect Legionella bacteria in the body. One is the urinary antigen tests of urine or urine specimens.

Early symptoms of Legionellosis disease in humans are headache, muscle aches, chills and high fever up to 40°C. These symptoms are similar to symptoms of common colds or influenza, so doctors are often not precise in determining the diagnosis. Symptoms begin to appear 2-10 days after Legionella bacteria infect the body. New on the following days, the condition of people who contract the disease looks worse.

Symptoms of Legionellosis disease. (Picture from: http://www.skinsight.com/)

Cough accompanied by bloody mucus, shortness of breath, chest pain, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting will begin to appear. If treatment is done too late, the disease can evolve into a more serious direction. Based on U.S. data Medicine or the National Library Service's Medicine Plus, the death rate from disease Legionellosis can approach 50 percent if late administration of antibiotics given to patients.

Complications that may occur and can lead to death of them happen to respiratory failure. This occurs when the lungs are no longer able to provide enough oxygen because the body has undergone a very severe inflammation. Other complications, the patient will experience a septic shock.

Septic shock is a condition in which blood pressure decreased abruptly due to severe inflammation that occurs in the body, thereby reducing blood flow to vital organs, especially kidneys and brain. The heart tries to compensate for the condition by increasing blood volume to be pumped. However, the growing workload of the heart so that eventually even weaken the heart and reduces blood flow even more.

Other complications that may occur is acute renal failure. These conditions resulted in kidneys lose their ability to perform the main function as organs filter the blood of substances that are not needed by the body.

Chance occurrence of Legionella bacteria contamination to public facilities such as hot water baths or spas, will still be there. Owners of public facilities certainly have an important responsibility in implementing security systems maintenance pool water properly.

By considering the worst risks that may occur to human health caused by Legionella bacteria, we as users of public facilities will also need to be vigilant and cautious. Prevention independently to minimize the risk of bacterial infection Le cleanse themselves with disinfectant soap before and after using the facilities of pool water. Immediately see a doctor if symptoms of Legionellosis disease began to be felt. *** [RA. LAKSMI PRITI MANOHARA | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 15092011]