Days of high temperatures
Many people have started to use air conditioners in their homes
But you know what?
Air conditioner that has not been used for a long time
Use it without washing
There may be a health hazard!
June 18th
A hospital in Changsha said
Recently, the hospital has been admitted one after another
Two patients with Legionella pneumonia
The onset is related to blowing air conditioning
Activate the car air conditioner that has not been cleaned for a long time
A man developed a severe infection in his lungs
According to reports, Mr. Zhou (pseudonym), a 55-year-old citizen of Changsha, has a history of type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal insufficiency and other medical history, and recently was hospitalized for treatment in the general medicine department of a hospital in Changsha due to persistent fever, chills and cough for 4 days. During the examination, it was found that the patient had a serious infection in the lungs, and several indicators of infection were significantly elevated. Antibiotic anti-infective treatment was ineffective, and the patient continued to have fever and abnormal manifestations of apathy.
It is understood that Mr. Zhou had previously traveled by car. Because of the hot weather, he turned on the car air conditioner, which had not been cleaned for a long time, and spent more than ten hours in the car every day, and after returning he had fever, cough and other symptoms similar to "cold".
Doctors determine that the patient may be infected with Legionella and recommend that the patient complete bronchoscopy and obtain a sample of alveolar lavage fluid to look for the pathogen. Finally, the results of NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) of the patient's alveolar lavage fluid showed that Legionella pneumophila was definitively diagnosed. The doctor immediately adjusted the treatment plan and switched to a first-line drug that can cover Legionella pneumophila to fight the infection, and the patient's body temperature gradually decreased, and the body temperature returned to normal the next day, and he was discharged from the hospital after follow-up treatment.
▲CT images of Mr. Zhou's lungs before and after treatment
Use an air conditioner that has not been cleaned for half a year
A woman contracted severe Legionella pneumonia
Mr. Zhou was admitted to the hospital at the same time as Ms. Yao (pseudonym), 32. According to her, the air conditioner at home has not been cleaned for more than half a year, and she used the air conditioner at home for two days before being admitted to the hospital, and after a week, she developed symptoms such as cough, phlegm, high fever, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. He was diagnosed with "acute gastroenteritis" at a local clinic, but after initial treatment, he was transferred to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of a hospital in Changsha for further treatment.
Ms. Yao has a history of type 2 diabetes, thyroid malignancy (after papillary carcinoma), hypothyroidism, Turner syndrome, etc., and is immunocompromised. Combined with the results of physical examination and related auxiliary examinations, the patient was preliminarily judged to have severe community-acquired pneumonia. After anti-infective treatment, the patient's condition gradually worsened, with recurrent high fever and abnormal multi-organ function, such as abnormal elevation of myocardial enzyme profile, hyponatremia, hematuria, proteinuria, etc.
By analyzing the patient's orange-red sputum and the intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations, the doctor recommended a complete etiological examination, and finally diagnosed severe Legionella pneumonia. After adjusting the medication, the patient's condition improved rapidly, the body temperature gradually returned to normal, and various indicators gradually recovered.
Air conditioners that have not been cleaned for a long time
Legionella pneumophila may be transmitted
According to doctors, Legionella pneumophila is the main pathogen causing Legionella pneumonia, which is a bacterium that is parasitic and can invade the macrophages of the human body and has strong pathogenicity.
Legionella pneumophila prefers a warm and humid environment, and the hot and humid summer is an excellent time for it to multiply, and the air conditioners, water heaters, showers, pipes, hot springs, etc. commonly used by people can become its breeding place. Therefore, the period from June to September is the peak period of Legionella pneumonia, and people are mainly infected through ingestion of Legionella-containing aerosols or contaminated water sources.
Based on the two patients' descriptions of their condition, doctors determined that the long-term uncleaned air conditioner was most likely the source of transmission, and that the patient was infected by inhaling aerosols containing Legionella bacteria after activating the air conditioner.
Doctor reminds
In severe cases, it can lead to shock and even death
Respiratory and critical care doctors at the hospital said that Legionella pneumonia developed about 10 days after invading the human body, and clinical symptoms include non-specific respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum production, and dyspnea, as well as a variety of extrapulmonary manifestations such as headache, myalgia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal impairment, and in severe cases, it can lead to shock and even death. Legionella is also one of the more common pathogens of severe community-acquired pneumonia.
It is worth noting that the high-risk groups that are susceptible to Legionella pneumonia include immunodeficiency groups, middle-aged and elderly people, patients with chronic heart, lung, kidney disease and other underlying diseases, long-term hospitalization, and pregnant women. These populations are more susceptible to Legionella infections due to weakened immunity or certain health conditions, and require enhanced protection and surveillance.
Prevention of Legionella
These aspects need to be paid attention to on a daily basis
Doctor reminds
The key to preventing Legionella pneumonia in summer
It's about keeping the environment hygienic
Clean and disinfect air conditioners and bathrooms regularly
and other places that are prone to the growth of Legionella bacteria
Avoid swimming in unsanitized pools
In particular, the following three aspects need to be noted
↓↓↓
■ Air conditioning
Before using an air conditioner that has not been used for a long time, it is necessary to do a thorough cleaning, disinfection and cleaning of the air conditioner, not only to clean the filter, but also to clean the radiator, cooling plate and exhaust pipe regularly.
Wear a well-sealed mask during the washing period to avoid inhaling pathogenic bacteria.
Do not turn on the air conditioner for a long time, pay attention to open the window regularly for ventilation, people with respiratory diseases should try to shorten the time of turning on the air conditioner.
■ Bathroom
If the storage water heater has not been used for a long time, drain the water before use. Because Legionella bacteria especially prefer moist and warm places, shower hoses are their favorite.
■ Landscape pool
When summer comes, don't play in the landscape pools or fountain pools, because most of the landscape water bodies are stagnant water, which is especially easy to breed bacteria and plankton in the high temperature season, and it is easy to become a breeding ground for Legionella bacteria.
Forward reminders
Let more people know!