Legionella found in screen washers linked to incidence of Legionnaires disease.

Studies have previously indicated that there was a link between car users and respiratory illness. No one knew quite why, but recent research reported at the American Society of Microbiologists have shown that Legionella can and does grow in screen wash.

75% of buses tested in Arizona were found to contain the Legionella bacteria, Otto Schwake, of Arizona State University reported. The screen washer in a vehicle is an ideal environment to grow and transmit the bug. It is warm, but not too hot and the screen wash is delivered as an aerosol. This is the mechanism which allows the bug to enter victims lungs where it grows causing Legionnaires disease a type of pneumonia.

Could rapid testing play a role in detecting the Legionella bacterium before vehicle users become infected?