What Happened in Vegas? Legionnaires' Disease

Anyone who vacations in Las Vegas knows something about taking chances. One of the biggest appeals of visiting Vegas is the potential for anything to happen. But, while everyone hopes lady luck smiles on them, realistically the most you\'ll probably return home with is a lighter bank account and a need for sleep. Odds are good, however, that no one expects their vacation souvenir to be a potentially deadly respiratory illness. Yet, recently the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada was linked to six cases of Legionnaires\' disease among guests visiting the resort.

Legionnaires\' disease is a severe type of pneumonia caused by the bacterium legionella. What sets this infectious disease apart is that rather than being spread via person-to-person contact, Legionnaires\' disease is spread through legionella-contaminated water vapor or mist. A person who breathes in this mist or vapor is at risk at developing the disease, or the lesser flu-like illness Pontiac Fever. Legionnaires\' was first identified in 1976 after a mysterious illness struck a group of American Legion members attending a conference at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over 200 people were treated for the illness, and 34 deaths were reported. Later that year, the disease and its cause were identified, as well as the realization that it was to blame for many previously misdiagnosed illnesses and deaths. Additionally, for those at the American Legion convention, the method of contamination was identified -- the hotel\'s air conditioning system.

Legionnaires\' disease outbreaks often occur in large, public structures such as hotels and hospitals where intricate water and air conditioning systems are used, as well as in mist-producing areas such as public hot tubs, pools or showers. While it\'s not impossible for this illness to appear in individual homes, it possible that a large buildings\' more complex cooling and water-storage system creates a more favorable breeding ground for the bacteria. The bacteria and its resultant diseases are preventable through the use of proper methods for cleaning and disinfecting water systems and areas, yet sadly, outbreaks are still occurring.

Similarly, the recent outbreak at the Aria Resort has been blamed on elevated levels of legionella in the hotel\'s water system that went undetected until the reported illnesses. Guests who stayed during a two-week period in June and July were notified of the potential for infection, and the building\'s water was treated to remove the bacteria. Luckily, no fatalities occurred. Sadly, this is not always the case as proven during similar outbreaks at other public establishments. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that Legionnaires\' results in death anywhere from 530of the time. Fatalities most commonly occur among the elderly or among those whose health is already compromised. As a result, when outbreaks do originate in hospitals, fatality rates significantly increase. Employees of infected sites also face a greater risk of illness due to repeated exposure, particularly maintenance crews who maintain water and air-conditioning equipment.

The CDC reports that every year 8,000-18,000 people in the United States are hospitalized as a result of the illness. Sadly, however, Legionnaires\' disease is often undiagnosed, misdiagnosed or unreported, which can extend the length and severity of an outbreak. If you have been affected by this disease, contact your public health department immediately. Additionally, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages and/or injuries. Employees infected by Legionnaires\' disease while on the job also may be eligible for workers\' compensation. Contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer who can advise you of your rights.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-happened-in-vegas-legionnaires-disease-5170763.html

Author: Brooke Haley

About the Author

Brooke Haley marketing associate at Millon & Peskin, Chicago workers compensation lawyer that practice in the areas of Civil Litigation, Workers\' Compensation, and Personal Injury. Millon & Peskin is a General Civil Litigation Practice with the goal of representing the interests of injured workers, throughout all applicable Courts within the State of Illinois. For more information, please visit http://www.millonpeskin.com

What is Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is due to a bacterium known as Legionella, which was first discovered in 1976. The disease was first reported after an outbreak at an American Legion convention. Patients who present with symptoms of pneumonia are often tested to determine if the illness is in fact Legionnaires'.

Every year in the United States the CDC reports anywhere from 8,000 to 18,000 cases of people being hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease. That being said, there are also a high number of cases that are not properly diagnosed or reported, so these figures are actually much higher.

This disease is considered to be a notifiable disease in which health districts can pinpoint outbreaks by means of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).

Legionnaires' disease can be deadly. A study of cases that have been reported to the CDC found that there is roughly a forty percent death rate for cases that are acquired in the hospital, and a twenty percent death rate for cases that are acquired somewhere in the community. There have been outbreaks that have as high as a fifty percent death rate.

As previously mentioned, Legionnaires' disease is a serious type of pneumonia. Symptoms of the disease usually start within two to fourteen days after being exposed to the Legionella bacteria. Symptoms can include: headaches, nausea, fever, vomiting, fatigue, chills, diarrhea, chest pain, confusion, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, muscle aches, and a cough that may produce blood or mucus.

When it is suspected that a patient has pneumonia, tests are often conducted to determine whether or not it was caused by the Legionella bacteria. This bacterium cannot be spread from one person to another. It is spread mostly by water, but can also grow in any damp, warm setting. People can contract Legionnaires' disease in the following ways:

Aspiration: This happens when water or other types of liquids that have been contaminated with the bacteria enters the lungs. Cases that are acquired in the hospital are sometimes related to aspiration because of using equipment that has been contaminated.

Inhalation: A number of cases of Legionnaires' disease are due to breathing in mist that contains Legionella. This has been linked to swimming pools, whirlpools, showers, fountains, faucets, and cooling units found in air conditioning.

Soil: There have been a few cases of people becoming ill with Legionnaires' disease after working with contaminated soil while gardening or by stirring up earth on construction sites.

Outbreaks of this disease are classified when two or more people fall ill after being in the same place at roughly the same time. Outbreaks have been linked to hospitals, hotels, nursing homes, and cruise lines.

Complications can arise after contracting the disease. Legionnaires' affects mainly the lungs, but can also impact other organs such as the kidneys and heart. Other complications can include:

Respiratory Failure: This is the main cause of death in patients who contract Legionnaires'. This typically happens when they are changes in the mechanical makeup of the lungs, or the arteries have experienced a loss of oxygen.

Endocarditis: This is an infection of the inner lining, also known as the endocardium, of the heart. This happens when the Legionella bacteria spread throughout the bloodstream. When the infection takes place, the heart valves can become damaged.

Pericarditis: This is an irritation and swelling of the membrane that surrounds the heart, known as the pericardium. 

Acute Kidney Failure: This is when your kidneys suddenly lose the ability to rid the blood of excess waste and fluid. When this occurs, the body stores waste and fluid, which can be deadly.

Septic Shock: Legionella bacteria can cause blood pressure to drop suddenly, which can reduce the flow of blood to important organs such as the kidneys and the heart. This can be fatal as it can lead to multiple organ failure.

If an outbreak is suspected when two or more people are diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease after staying at the same hotel, or the same cruise ship, testing is done to verify the source of the outbreak.

In order to determine the source of the bacteria, a visual inspection is conducted. Health officials will visually examine key areas of the hotel, cruise ships, office building, etc. These areas typically include air conditioning systems, hot water tanks, storage tanks, swimming pools, whirlpools, spas, ornamental fountains, and all potable water systems.

If it is found that the hotel or other inhabitable area needs to be tested for Legionella bacteria, samples are typically obtained from air conditioning systems, spa and pool filters, water tanks, hot water heaters, showers, sings, and anywhere else people may have come into contact with the disease.

The test to determine if Legionnaires' disease is present looks for the bacteria itself, and the precise species of the bacteria. More testing can be done to determine the species more precise serotype. For example, the species Legionella pneumophila has fifteen different serogroups. Even more in depth testing can be done to find the serogroup's specific molecular subtype. If the culture method is what people that fell ill were diagnosed with, testing can be done to find out if the Legionella that caused their illness has the same molecular subtype as the bacteria located in the hotel or other area in question. The results of these tests can be used as valuable evidence in the event that a lawsuit is filed against the establishment.

Cases of Legionnaires' disease can also be linked to one another and a particular area by completing an epidemiological investigation. This is especially true if all of the people that have become ill stayed in the same location, at approximately the same time, and all came down with the same symptoms within a fourteen day period. Epidemiological findings can be used as evidence for a lawsuit as well.

If you or someone you know has become ill with Legionnaires' disease, you should contact a personal injury attorney promptly. He or she can review your case, and help you pursue a claim against the parties responsible for your illness.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-and-safety-articles/what-is-legionnaires-disease-6080973.html

Author: Christopher Price

About the Author

If someone in your family is in need of a civil litigation law firm then speak with a superlative team of legal professionals at Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig LLP. For more information on personal injury lawyers visit http://www.feldmanshepherd.com