whom were treated at home, were suspected cases of Legionnaires’ disease (O’Mahony 1990). et al., 1.5.3 Travel associated Legionnaires’ disease In 2008, the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires’ disease (EWGLINET) received reports of 866 of travel-associated Legionnaires’ disease, which was slightly below the number of cases reported in 2007. 42 of these cases were fatal. Prior to 2007 there had been a steady increase in the number of cases reported to the scheme since its inception in 1987. This was due in part to improved national surveillance and to an increasing number of countries joining the scheme. There is, however, significant under-ascertainment of Legionnaires’ disease within Europe. Especially among the newer Member States of the European Union which include countries where surveillance for Legionnaires’ disease is less well developed. Therefore, there is potential for case numbers to increase (Ricketts 2010). et al., The total reported travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales from 1980 to 2009 was 3343. 2880 of these cases were associated with travel outside the UK and 463 cases were associated with travel within the UK (www.hpa.org.uk). 1.5.4 Legionnaires’ disease in long-term care residents Pneumonia is the leading of death and an important cause of transfer to acute care facilities in long-term care residents (Muder, 1998). There are a number of epidemiological factors that suggest that long-term care residents might be at particular risk for legionellosis should it be present in the environment. Long-term care residents often have swallowing difficulties, and many receive nasogastric tube feedings, predisposing factors to aspiration which is the primary mode of transmission (Seenivasan 2005). et al., 11
whom were treated at home, were suspected cases of Legionnaires’ disease (O’Mahony et al., 1990). 1.5.3 Travel associated Legionnaires’ disease In 2008, the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires’ disease (EWGLINET) received reports of 866 of travel-associated Legionnaires’ disease, which was slightly below the number of cases reported in 2007. 42 of these cases were fatal. Prior to 2007 there had been a steady increase in the number of cases reported to the scheme since its inception in 1987. This was due in part to improved national surveillance and to an increasing number of countries joining the scheme. There is, however, significant under-ascertainment of Legionnaires’ disease within Europe. Especially among the newer Member States of the European Union which include countries where surveillance for Legionnaires’ disease is less well developed. Therefore, there is potential for case numbers to increase (Ricketts et al., 2010). The total reported travel-associated cases of Legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales from 1980 to 2009 was 3343. 2880 of these cases were associated with travel outside the UK and 463 cases were associated with travel within the UK (www.hpa.org.uk). 1.5.4 Legionnaires’ disease in long-term care residents Pneumonia is the leading of death and an important cause of transfer to acute care facilities in long-term care residents (Muder, 1998). There are a number of epidemiological factors that suggest that long-term care residents might be at particular risk for legionellosis should it be present in the environment. Long-term care residents often have swallowing difficulties, and many receive nasogastric tube feedings, predisposing factors to aspiration which is the primary mode of transmission (Seenivasan et al., 2005). 11
Birgitta-Bedford-Thesis-2012.docx