New CDC Vital Signs: Legionnaires’ disease and health care facilities

New CDC Vital Signs: Legionnaires’ disease and health care facilities

Explore CDC’s Vital Signs on Legionnaires’ disease (LD) and health care facilities, which includes a practical guide for developing a LD water management program, infographic fact sheet, and more. Please share with your colleagues, membership, and partners.

Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is a serious, and often deadly, lung infection (pneumonia) usually contracted by breathing in water droplets containing the germs. Many people being treated at health care facilities, including long-term care facilities and hospitals, have conditions that put them at greater risk of getting sick and dying from LD. This serious bacterial lung infection is deadly for 1 in 4 people who get it from a stay in a health care facility. CDC investigations show that 4 in 5 LD outbreaks in health care facilities are caused by problems that could be prevented with effective water management. Environmental health expertise is a key part of investigating LD outbreaks and good water management. Read CDC's Vital Signs Report Find More LD Resources for Environmental Health Professionals