Is Legionella Bacteria Becoming Antibiotic Resistant?

In this article the water safety specialists at Legionella Control International look at the role of antibiotics in protecting humans against pathogenic organisms, paying particular attention to waterborne bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and legionella.

The article begins by looking at research from the World Health Organisation identifying several antibiotic resistant pathogens of concern, categorised as critical, high and medium risk. It then goes on to consider antimicrobial resistance, and the dangers of waterborne bacteria including pseudomonas and legionella. It concludes by asking if legionella bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, and highlighting a number of practical risk mitigation strategies for the control of both pseudomonas and legionella risks in the workplace.

A version of this article dealing with legionella bacteria and its potential for antimicrobial resistance appeared in Legionella Control International’s newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up at our website here.

How serious is antimicrobial resistance becoming?

Imagine you develop a bacterial infection. Home treatments are not sufficient to get rid of it, so you visit your GP to get some antibiotics. With time, and providing you take the whole course, the infection clears up and you return to normal.

Now, imagine there are no antibiotics that can treat the infection. What happens then?

This might sound unusual and unlikely, but it is a scenario that is rapidly getting closer to becoming commonplace. We have known about antimicrobial resistance for some time, and the need is becoming ever more urgent to find new ways of treating bacteria that can resist antibiotics given to combat them.

World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights priority pathogens

The idea of antibiotic resistance came to light several years ago. Back in 2017, the World Health Organisation or WHO published a list of bacteria divided into three groups – some more urgent than others – that required research to determine new ways to combat them.

The top three pathogens, classed as Priority 1, Critical were all carbapenem-resistant. Carbapenem is the name given to a class of antibiotics often used to treat organisms that are gram-positive or gram-negative. They are among the more powerful antibiotics and can treat a range of bacterial infections. The three bacteria appearing in the critical group on the list from WHO therefore require urgent attention, as we may run out of ways to treat infections caused by the pathogens ... read more here