Legionellosis in the occupational setting

With few exceptions, cases occurred in industrialized countries of the northern hemisphere. Overall, our review highlights an extended spectrum of occupational categories at risk for legionellosis. For all categories, infection originated from exposure to work-generated aerosols contaminated with Legionella spp., and industrial facilities equipped with cooling towers or coolant systems were the most common occupational settings. These observations should raise awareness of the risk of acquiring legionellosis at work, and help to improve prevention and control measures for this infrequent but still problematic disease.