Infection risk in the shower - Why threaten after the shower of death

Infections with Legionella: Showering can make you sick

In Germany, more and more infections are reported with Legionella. The dangerous bacteria lurk not only in waters, but sometimes in tap water. The disease can be fatal in the worst case. But you can protect yourself from it.

Legionella infections can be fatal

If you have not used the water pipes at home because of prolonged absence, you should first run hot water before taking a shower. If you do not do that, you sometimes run the risk of becoming infected with legionella (legionellosis). These bacteria can lead to enormous health problems. In extreme cases, a legionellosis can kill. Experts explain how to protect yourself.

In Germany, more and more legionella infections have been registered in recent years. One can get infected among other things while showering. Experts explain how to protect yourself from the bacteria. (Image: Pictures4you / fotolia.com)

Bacteria in water pipes

Legionella are the world's common environmental pathogens, which are a natural component of surface waters and groundwater in small numbers.

The germs multiply best at temperatures between 25 and 45 degrees. Above 60 degrees, they are killed and below 20 degrees, they hardly multiply.

In artificial water systems such as water pipes in buildings, the pathogens find particularly good growth conditions due to the prevailing temperatures.

Transmission through atomized water

"The pathogens are transmitted through atomized, atomized water. The pathogen-containing droplets can spread in the air and be inhaled, "explains the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) on its portal" Infektionsschutz.de ".

"Possible sources of infection are, for example, showers, humidifiers or faucets, as well as cooling towers or air conditioning systems. Even in swimming pools, waterfalls, slides, whirlpools and fountains can be transmitted ", say the experts.

"When drinking, infection in rare cases is possible if water inadvertently enters the lungs via the trachea if swallowed."

A direct human-to-human transmission is not yet known, it is considered unlikely.

Two different diseases

"Since the introduction of the Legionellos registration requirement in 2001, continuously increasing numbers of cases have been registered, which have stabilized at around 600 diseases a year in recent years," reports the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website.

In legionellosis, one differentiates between two different clinical pictures: on the one hand the Legionnaire's disease, or, to put it medically, the Legionella pneumonia. It is a severe form of pneumonia.

In infected people develop very quickly chest and headaches, cough, chills and high fever from 39 to 40.5 degrees.

It can also lead to dizziness to severe confusion. There are also occasional abdominal pain with diarrhea and vomiting.

The pneumonia is often severe and takes about four weeks. A case from Bremen shows that she can also be deadly. There, two years ago, a man died of Legionella.

Pontiac fever with a milder course

More common than the Legionella pneumonia is the so-called Pontiac fever. This is milder without pneumonia.

This form begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, malaise, headache and body aches. Also chest pain and cough are possible. Confusion states, on the other hand, are rare.

The disease usually heals by itself within two to five days. Late damage and deaths are unknown.

Important to know: The first complaints of Legionnaire's disease show up two to ten days after the contact with the pathogen.

Between the infection and onset of Pontiac fever, however, are only five hours to just under three days.

Particularly vulnerable people

"Endangered are above all people with a weakened defense, seniors or smokers. Similarly, people who take drugs that suppress the body's defense system, "it says on" infection protection.de ".

These individuals also "develop more common complications, particularly brain and kidney."

Men are more likely to get sick than women, children rarely.

In any case, pneumonia caused by Legionella must be treated with effective antibiotics and often in the hospital.

When Pontiac fever antibiotics usually bring nothing. As a rule, only the complaints such as the fever are treated.

In diseases, it is generally important to quickly identify and eliminate the source of infection to prevent further infections.

That's how you can protect yourself

Above all, it is important to avoid the proliferation of Legionella in the pipe system of the drinking water installation.

For this you should use the water pipes regularly and run after prolonged absence before showering hot water.

Stagnant water in the pipes should be avoided. The controller temperature at the drinking water heater should be set to at least 60 degrees.

The water temperatures in the piping system should at no point have temperatures below 55 degrees.

A vaccine against Legionella is not available. (Ad)