Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Legionella,Legionnaire's disease,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on April 8, 2026
Legionella pneumonia is a serious illness. Legionnaires’ disease, the illness associated with Legionella pneumonia, has been associated with hotels, resorts, gyms, large buildings with cooling towers, and hospitals. It is especially dangerous in hospitals because the patients are likely experiencing conditions that could make their recovery more difficult.
In a recent study performed by the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and Rochester, Minnesota, investigators mined electronic health records of adults diagnosed with Legionella pneumonia to uncover other factors associated with their outcome.
They found that certain conditions were linked to increased chances of a 30-day death rate.
What is Legionella pneumonia and how do people get it? What did researchers uncover about the link between underlying conditions and high mortality?
Let’s find out!
Legionella pneumonia, also known as Legionnaires’ disease, is caused by inhaling microscopic Legionella bacteria suspended in aerosolized water droplets.
Essentially water mist.
Inhaling this mist can move these waterborne bacteria into your lungs where they can cause infection.
Legionella bacteria are more commonly found in natural water sources like lakes, rivers, and streams. Though, in these outdoor places, infection is rare.
It is when these germs make their way into human-made water systems that people are more likely to get sick.
Certain human-made water systems are better suited for growing and spreading harmful Legionella bacteria. But anything that generates a mist or spray can spread bacteria.
The specific source of Legionnaires’ disease in Albuquerque is unclear, however, there are a few common sources of interest.
Some of the more common sources of Legionnaires’ disease include:
Not all air conditioning systems are vulnerable. For example, cars and most home air-conditioning systems are not a risk for Legionella growth. These types of systems do not use water to cool the air.
Unlike most other respiratory illnesses, Legionnaires’ disease is not contagious. You cannot get Legionnaires’ disease from someone who is infected.
Friends, family members, and those caring for someone with Legionella pneumonia are unlikely to get sick. Airborne pneumonia reaches the lungs and burrows deep in the lower respiratory tract. More specifically, the tiny air sacs called alveoli. This doesn’t allow the germs to spread for person-to-person.
Mayo Clinic researchers analyzed health records of 344 adult patients diagnosed with Legionella pneumonia between January 2019 and September 2025. The median age of patients selected was 66.6 years
This study uncovered some interesting connections. Namely, the fact that urine antigen testing often produces false negative results. Meaning, a patient who has a Legionella pneumonia diagnosis from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture test was only positive for urine antigen tests in 25.6%.
That is nearly a 75% failure rate.
While urine antigen tests offer faster results, patients should still undergo more reliable testing methods for proper diagnosis.
“Our findings also demonstrate that reliance on a single diagnostic modality – most notably urinary antigen testing – would have missed a significant proportion of cases, emphasizing the importance of PCR-based assays in patients with suspected Legionella pneumonia.
Of the 344 patients with Legionella pneumonia identified for the study, most (94.2%) required hospitalization. Many (36.1%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Mechanical ventilation was employed in 22.7% of patients, and 1.5% of patients received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). A type of artificial lung used by pumping blood outside of the body to be cleaned and oxygenated to allow the body’s organs to rest and recover.
The study revealed that 11.9% of patients died within 30 days and 16.6% of patients died within 90 days of infection.
What exactly did these patients have in common.
The study found that cirrhosis increased changes of death with an odds ratio (OR) of 10.2, a weakened immune system increased death by an OR of 2.24, and lymphopenia had an OR 2.09 for death.
These conditions significantly increased the likelihood of death within 30 days.
This study revealed that people with cirrhosis, lymphopenia, and/or a weakened immune system have a higher risk of mortality and if symptoms appear, should seek medical attention right away. Notify your healthcare provider of your potential exposure risk to expedite specialized laboratory tests that can diagnose your illness.
According to study authors, “Legionella pneumonia was associated with short-term mortality. Cirrhosis, age, immunocompromised status, and lymphopenia at presentation emerged as independent predictors of 30-day mortality, underscoring the importance of host vulnerability in determining outcomes.
Prompt and accurate diagnosis can greatly impact survival rate.
Legionella pneumonia is a preventable illness. Simple routine maintenance keeps these harmful germs from growing and infecting those entering the facility. Even more importantly. This maintenance is required by health authorities.
Lapses in these safety protocols leave guests vulnerable to illness.
Medical bills, lost wages, and other burdens associated with Legionella pneumonia add up. An experienced Legionella lawyer can help answer questions you may have about your situation and point you toward the resources you need. If you wish to make a legal claim, they can help you every step of the way.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has won millions of dollars in Legionella cases for families in situations just like yours.
If you or a family member have contracted Legionella pneumonia, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Legionella lawyer that can help.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Older Patients with Legionella Pneumonia and Certain Underlying Conditions Experience Higher Death Rates, Says Mayo Clinic Research,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)