Under the Weather: Legionellosis and Meteorological Factors

Abstract

The incidence of legionellosis, caused by the bacteria Legionella which are commonly found in the environment, has been increasing in New Jersey (NJ) over the last decade. The majority of cases are sporadic with no known source of exposure. Meteorological factors may be associated with increases in legionellosis. Time series and case-crossover study designs were used to evaluate associations of legionellosis and meteorological factors (temperature (daily minimum, maximum, and mean), precipitation, dew point, relative humidity, sea level pressure, wind speed (daily maximum and mean), gust, and visibility). Time series analyses of multi-factor models indicated increases in monthly relative humidity and precipitation were positively associated with monthly legionellosis rate, while maximum temperature and visibility were inversely associated. Case-crossover analyses of multi-factor models indicated increases in relative humidity occurring likely before incubation period was positively associated, while sea level pressure and visibility, also likely preceding incubation period, were inversely associated. It is possible that meteorological factors, such as wet, humid weather with low barometric pressure, allow proliferation of Legionella in natural environments, increasing the rate of legionellosis.

Weather-Dependent Risk for Legionnaires’ Disease, United States

“…Previous work has demonstrated seasonality and the effects of weather patterns on LD ( 1 , 11 – 13 , 15 , 16 ). However, much of this work was based on regional investigations where LD is common.…”

“…are more sensitive than other pathogens to drying conditions ( 18 ). In contrast, warm and humid weather tends to support pathogen survival, growth, and the potential for aerosol exposures, increasing disease risk ( 1 , 13 , 19 ).…”

Legionellen-Infektionsprävention: extrem teuer und wenig effektiv

“…In einer Analyse der ersten 1000 diagnostizierten Fälle in den USA wurde schon 1981 beschrieben, dass 75 % aller Fälle in den Monaten Juni -Oktober auftreten [16]. In den letzten Jahren gibt es zunehmend Studien, die sich mit meteorologischen Einflussfaktoren beschäftigen, und die gute Belege dafür liefern, dass warmes und feuchtes Wetter die Krankheitsfälle deutlich ansteigen lassen [17,18] In den Niederlanden wurden Legionellen nach einem großen Ausbruch auf einer Blumenschau in Bovenkarspel im Jahr 1999 zu einem Public-Health-Thema. 2002 wurde u. a. ein nationales Ausbruchs-Untersuchungs-Programm bei den öffentlichen Gesundheitsbehörden initiiert.…”

Prediction of Precipitation Based on Recurrent Neural Networks in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China

“…Some researchers have used the meteorological variables, such as Maximum Temperature, Minimum Temperature, Maximum Relative Humidity, Minimum Relative Humidity, Wind Speed, Sunshine, and so on, to predict the precipitation [29][30][31][32]. Gleason et al designed the time series and case-crossover model to evaluate associations of precipitation and meteorological factors, such as temperature (daily minimum, maximum, and mean), dew point, relative humidity, sea level pressure, and wind speed (daily maximum and mean) [29]. Poornima et al presented an Intensified Long Short-Term Memory (Intensified LSTM) using Maximum Temperature, Minimum Temperature, Maximum Relative Humidity, Minimum Relative Humidity, Wind Speed, Sunshine, and Evapotranspiration to predict rainfall [30].…”