Interventional Care
Preventing Legionnaires’ disease in LTC
PDI Healthcare’s Clinical Science Liaison, Amanda Thornton, RN, MSN, wrote an article for McKnight’s Long-Term Care News about preventing Legionnaires’ disease in long-term care facilities.
Preventing Legionnaires’ disease in LTC
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (mcknights.com)
Author: Amanda Thornton, RN, MSN
Excerpt:
It is not often that we think of Legionnaires’ disease, the form of pneumonia brought on by inhaling aerosolized water containing Legionella pneumophila bacteria. But when the illness rears its ugly head, the results can be disastrous for those exposed.
In long-term care facilities, patients are at particular risk due to age – in some cases being bedridden and with the presence of multiple comorbidities. Having a weakened immune system also increases the risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease, rendering exposure prevention particularly important in these environments.