National Legionella Center

The Center conducts epidemiological surveys and environmental monitoring, provides support to public and private microbiology laboratories, and participates in drafting recommendations.

National reference center

In 1997, the then Canton Institute of Microbiology in Bellinzona was designated by the Federal Office of Public Health as the National Reference Center for Legionella (NCRL). The CNRL works in cooperation with the Communicable Diseases Division of the Federal Office of Public Health in combating Legionella spp. throughout the country. The CNRL conducts epidemiological surveys and environmental monitoring, provides support to public and private microbiology laboratories, and participates in the drafting of recommendations. The CNRL is also in charge of representing Switzerland in contacts with national laboratories in other countries and international surveillance networks.

As of 2013, the Cantonal Institute of Microbiology was integrated into the Institute of Laboratory Medicine of the Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, and the CNRL operates as the laboratory of the EOLAB Microbiology Service.

Duties of the CNRL

  • To contribute to the surveillance of legionellosis.
  • Provide support to those involved in investigations of outbreaks.
  • To actualize information concerning the biology of Legionella spp., prevention of infection, and remediation of facilities.
  • Draft data sheets with protocols for sampling, isolation and quantification of Legionella spp.
  • Collect Legionella spp. strains sent from other laboratories, serotyping and characterizing bacterial strains if necessary.
  • Represent Switzerland internationally in microbiological aspects concerning Legionnaires' disease and Legionella in general.

CNR users are:

  • Hospital microbiology laboratories for serotyping and identification of isolated strains and molecular typing for epidemiological purposes.
  • Cantonal laboratories and environmental microbiology laboratories for analysis of water samples and identification of isolated strains.
  • Some hospitals for Legionella pneumophila antigen detection in urine.

Contact

Istituto di Medicina di Laboratorio EOC

Centro Nazionale di referenza per Legionella

Via Mirasole 22 A
6500 Bellinzona

  • Chiusura dell’ambulatorio
    Saturday
    Sunday

Centre national de référence

En 1997, l'Institut cantonal de microbiologie de Bellinzone a reçu de l'OFSP le mandat de CNR pour Legionella. Il travaille en collaboration avec la Division Maladies transmissibles de l'OFSP pour la lutte contre Legionella spp. sur le territoire national. Le CNR effectue des enquêtes épidémiologiques et des contrôles environnementaux. Il offre un soutien aux laboratoires de microbiologie publics et privés et participe à la rédaction de recommandations. Il est en outre chargé de représenter la Suisse dans les contacts avec les laboratoires nationaux d'autres pays et les réseaux de surveillance internationaux.

Depuis 2013 l'Istitut cantonal de microbiologie a été intergré dans le Département de médicine de laboratoire de l'"Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale" et le CNRL est actif comme laboratoire du service des microbiologie EOLAB.

Les tâches du CNR pour Legionella sont:

  • Contribuer à la surveillance de la légionellose.
  • Fournir un appui aux différents intervenants engagés dans les investigations en présence d'une flambée épidémique.
  • Actualiser les informations concernant la biologie de Legionella spp. ainsi que la prévention de l'infection et l'assainissement des installations.
  • Rédiger des fiches techniques comprenant les protocoles de prélèvement, d'isolement et de dénombrement de Legionella spp.
  • Collectionner des souches de Legionella spp. envoyées par les autres laboratoires, sérotyper et caractériser les souches selon les besoins.
  • Représenter la Suisse au niveau international pour les questions de microbiologie.

Les usagers du CNR sont:

  • Les laboratoires de microbiologie des hôpitaux pour le sérotypage, l'identification des souches isolées et le typage moléculaire dans un but épidémiologique.
  • Les laboratoires cantonaux et les laboratoires de microibologie environnementale pour l'analyse de prélèvements hydriques, et l'identification des souches isolées.
  • Certains hôpitaux pour la détection de l'antigène de Legionella pneumophila dans les urines.
  • Les cliniques privées, laboratoires d'analyse, hôtels et établissements médico-sociaux pour la recherche de Legionella spp. dans l'eau.
Nationales Referenzzentrum

1997 wurde das damalige Kantonale Institut für Mikrobiologie in Bellinzona vom Bundesamt für Gesundheit zum Nationalen Referenzzentrum für Legionellen (NCRL) ernannt. Das CNRL arbeitet bei der Bekämpfung von Legionella spp. in der ganzen Schweiz mit der Abteilung für übertragbare Krankheiten des Bundesamts für Gesundheit zusammen. Das CNRL führt epidemiologische Erhebungen und Umweltkontrollen durch, unterstützt öffentliche und private mikrobiologische Laboratorien und beteiligt sich an der Erarbeitung von Empfehlungen. Das CNRL ist auch für die Vertretung der Schweiz bei Kontakten mit nationalen Laboratorien in anderen Ländern und internationalen Überwachungsnetzen zuständig.

Seit 2013 ist das kantonale Institut für Mikrobiologie in das Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin der Kantonsspitalgesellschaft integriert und das CNRL arbeitet als Labor des Mikrobiologischen Dienstes des EOLAB.

Aufgaben des NRLC

  • Beitrag zur Überwachung der Legionellose.
  • Unterstützung derjenigen, die an der Untersuchung von Ausbrüchen beteiligt sind.
  • Aktualisierung von Informationen über die Biologie von Legionella spp., die Prävention von Infektionen und die Sanierung von Anlagen.
  • Erstellung von Datenblättern mit Protokollen für die Probenahme, Isolierung und Quantifizierung von Legionella spp.
  • Sammeln von Stämmen von Legionella spp., die von anderen Labors eingesandt werden, gegebenenfalls Serotypisierung und Charakterisierung von Bakterienstämmen.
  • Internationale Vertretung der Schweiz in Bezug auf mikrobiologische Aspekte der Legionärskrankheit und Legionellen im Allgemeinen.

CNR-Benutzer sind:

  • Mikrobiologische Labors in Krankenhäusern für die Serotypisierung und Identifizierung isolierter Stämme sowie für die molekulare Typisierung zu epidemiologischen Zwecken.
  • Kantonale Laboratorien und mikrobiologische Umweltlaboratorien für die Analyse von Wasserproben und die Identifizierung isolierter Stämme.
  • Einige Spitäler für den Nachweis von Legionella pneumophila-Antigen im Urin.

Performance

The analyses performed by the NRC Legionella are summarized in the e-vademecum (look for "Legionella" in Analysis).

Access the e-vademecum

Environmental culture form

Clinical samples confirmation analysis form

Information

Frequently asked questions

What is legionnaire's disease?

Legionnaires' disease is a form of pneumonia caused by legionellae, bacteria found primarily in warm or hot water. The disease and bacteria were discovered in 1976 during an outbreak that occurred during an American Legion convention in Philadelphia.

How is legionnaire's disease contracted?

Legionnaires' disease is transmitted by inhalation of contaminated aerosols. These are airborne droplets of water containing legionellae. Some rare cases have been blamed on wound contact with contaminated water.

Is legionnaire's disease a contagious disease?

No. Legionnaire's disease is not a contagious disease and is not transmitted from person to person.

Is legionnaire's disease a treatable disease?

Yes. Many antibiotics are effective against legionellae. The two most commonly used classes of antibiotics are macrolides and quinolones.

Who is at risk of contracting legionnaire's disease?

Healthy young people can also contract Legionnaires' disease, but individuals who are immunocompromised due to diseases such as cancer or undergoing immune lowering therapies (e.g., chemotherapy) have a much higher risk of being infected. People over age 65, smokers and those who abuse alcohol are also at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Where legionellae live

Legionellae live in natural aquatic environments such as lakes and rivers. Some species have also been found in soil. In the environment, legionellae live in association with other microorganisms, especially amoebae and protozoa.

What are the main sources of aerosols that may contain legionellae and thus pose a danger to humans?

The aerosols developed by showers and faucets, air humidifiers, air conditioning systems and cooling towers, and all systems that use pulverized water, such as irrigation systems, car washes, pressure washers, etc., are not included in the scope of application.

What is the recommended limit of legionellae in the distribution water of a building?

In residential buildings, Legionellae concentrations of less than 1000 CFU per liter are recommended. In hospitals (which are higher risk environments), however, concentrations less than or equal to 100 CFU per liter are recommended. In high-risk wards such as intended care or oncology and transplantation wards, Legionella should not be detectable (concentrations less than 100 CFU/liter).

Can legionella survive in chlorinated water?

Legionella has been isolated from water treated with chlorine products. Due to its ability to hide within amoebae and biofilms, Legionella is able to survive even under extreme conditions and even relatively high concentrations of disinfectant products. When Legionella finds itself in newly favorable environments it then has the ability to release itself into the environment and multiply.

Under what temperature and acidity conditions can Legionella survive?

Legionella can survive at very acidic pH values (up to pH 2.0) and temperatures up to 66°C. Only from 70°C and above do Legionellae die rapidly.

Are all legionellae dangerous to humans?

Only about 20 of the 60 Legionella species described so far are thought to be dangerous to humans. Of these, the most dangerous is certainly Legionella pneumophila, which causes more than 90 percent of Legionella pneumonia in Europe.

The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.
The original version is the page in Italian.