The invisible danger in hotel showers: How does the Legionella bacterium spread?
Experts warn against the dangers of the Legionella bacterium, which multiplies in infrequently used hotel water systems and can spread via the respiratory tract.
In hotels where people stay during holidays or business trips, the Legionella bacterium that rapidly multiplies in infrequently used water systems can reach the lungs through the respiratory tract and cause serious health problems. Experts state that water systems must be properly managed against the risk of infection.
The growing danger in water systems
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüsrev Diktaş, a specialist in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, issued important warnings about bacteria that can develop in building water systems and ways to protect against them.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diktaş stated that pipes where water remains stagnant for a long time, shower heads, hot water systems, and Jacuzzis create a suitable environment for the bacterium to multiply.
Transmission route and common misconceptions
Stating that one of the most common mistakes regarding Legionella is the belief that transmission occurs through drinking water, experts note that the main route of transmission is aerosols.
This process, which spreads when very small water droplets containing the bacterium reach the lungs via the respiratory tract, is particularly significant in systems like showers and Jacuzzis.
Risk groups and clinical symptoms
Stating that not everyone who comes into contact with it will get sick, experts identify individuals over the age of 50, smokers, and immunocompromised individuals as the risk group.
While Legionnaires' disease manifests with symptoms such as high fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, and muscle aches, reporting the travel history to the physician is of great importance in the diagnosis process.
Facility management and water safety
It is emphasized that the fight against Legionella should not start when the guest turns on the shower, but rather that actual protection must be carried out at the facility management level.
Keeping hot and cold water systems at appropriate temperatures, ensuring regular circulation within the system, and disinfecting storage tanks are of critical importance.