User:SamMHall/Legionella

Review of Current Page
The Legionella page seems to have a helpful amount of background information concerning the pathogen and its associated disease (Legionnaires). Information appears to be presented in a neutral tone, though detail concerning recreational exposure to this bacteria appears lacking. Recreational exposure to Legionella spp. is particularly important when extreme weather events and natural disasters are involved.

It is important that the information I add to the Legionella page is complimentary to other established pages and does not repeat too much information. There are several pages established for different Legionella species, such as Legionella anisa. There are also other terms like Legionellosis that redirects to the page Legionnaires, which is a disease associated with exposure to this gram-negative bacteria.

Recreational Exposure
As outlined above, cooling towers are well established as sources of Legionella that may have a large impact on community exposure to the bacterium and Legionnaires Disease epidemics. In addition to cooling towers, use of swimming pools, spa pools, and other recreational water bodies has also been shown to increase risk of exposure to Legionella, though this differs by species of Legionella. In a review of disease caused by recreational exposure to Legionella, most exposures occurred in spas or pools used by the public (hotels or recreational centers) or in natural settings (hot springs or thermal water).

Hotels and other tourist destinations have contributed to Legionella exposure. Relative danger at commonly used facilities with heating and cooling water systems depends on several factors, such as: the water source, how much Legionella is present (if there is any), if/how the water system is treated, how people are interacting with this water, and other factors that make the water systems so dynamic.

In addition to tourists and other recreators, gardeners may be at increased risk for exposure to Legionella. In some countries (like Australia), Legionella lives in soil and compost. Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall in some regions of the world due to climate change may impact Legionella in soil, gardeners seasonal exposure to contaminated soil, and complex water systems used by the public.

Exposure related to natural disasters and climate change
Not only are Legionella spp. present in man-made water systems and infrastructure, but this bacteria also lives in natural bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers. Weather patterns and other environmental factors may increase risk of Legionella outbreaks; a study in Minnesota, USA, using outbreak information from 2011-2018 showed precipitation as having the greatest effect of increasing risk of Legionella when taking into account other environmental factors (temperature, relative humidity, land use and age of infected person). Weather patterns heavily relate to the established infrastructure and water sources, especially in urban settings. In the US, most Legionella cases have occurred in the summertime, though they were likely more associated with rainfall and humidity than summer temperatures. Severe rain patterns can increase risk of water source contamination through flooding and unseasonable rains; therefore, natural disasters, especially those associated with climate change, may increase risk of exposure to Legionella.