[Regulatory aspects and recommendations related to Legionnaires' disease control in Croatia].

Health concerns related to Legionnaires' disease have been identified as an area of increasing public and professional interest. Any natural water or man-made water systems worldwide may be reservoirs of legionellae. That is one of the reasons why development of specific legislation on legionellae prevention is such a complex problem. Nevertheless, industrialized countries in the world and in Europe have appropriate legislation that is subject to continuous improving. In the European Union member countries, attention has been increasingly focused on travel associated Legionnaires' disease. In Croatia, the By-Law on Infectious Disease Protection is the basic legal act related to the prevention of infectious diseases including Legionnaires' disease. Arrays of preventive measures that can apply to hotels, public sites and buildings as potential places of exposure to legionellae have been recommended. In Croatia, the epidemiological situation concerning Legionnaires' disease is more favorable than in many European countries and should be maintained and improved through legislation and good practice.