LEGIONELLA AND LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE
Legionella pneumophila is a waterborne bacterium that can cause fatal respiratory diseases in humans, such as Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever.
Legionella occurs naturally and is seen commonly in any ponds, rivers, and other natural water systems. However, when bacteria enter the surrounding water systems, the conditions such as water temperature allow bacteria to spread quickly. This can lead to epidemics of Legionnaires' disease (LD) and other related infections. Learn how temperature can affect growth of Legionella.
Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of Pneumonia that causes fatal complications to occur in the human lungs. Any water source that produces aerosols, including cooling towers, spas and pools, fountains, showers, car washes, air conditioning units, humidifiers, etc., should be considered at risk of contamination by Legionella bacteria.
Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of Pneumonia that causes fatal complications to occur in the human lungs. It must be accepted that any water source that produces aerosols, including the cooling towers, spas and pools, fountains, showers, car washes, air conditioning units, humidifiers, etc., is at risk of contamination by Legionella bacteria.
How Legionella can infect human lungs? If the infection is not controlled or treated early, it can cause confusion, coma, heart failure, and finally death. According to the World Health Organization, the mortality of Legionnaires' disease can be 40 to 80% in the untreated patients and can be reduced to 5 to 30% through a proper case management. In recent years, it is observed that there is an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases all around the world. The reported Legionnaires' disease cases had increased at an alarming rate. Between 2011 and 2015, cases of infection increased by 42%, and Europe observed the largest number of cases ever reported (total notification rate 1.37 per 100,000 of the population and mortality 8.1%).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Legionnaires' disease cases have increased around 4.5 times since 2000 only in the USA. The scientists estimate that such cases may be caused by the effects of climate change such as increased temperatures and precipitation, etc., and any infection cases will continue to increase. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, briefly CDC also reports that, although Legionnaires' disease increases, many businesses and individuals still ignore the risks associated with Legionella bacteria. In both domestic and industrial environments, it is important to be aware of the risks presented by Legionella, because the consequences of ignoring them are serious. If we don’t do all things that we must do to reduce the risk in your plant, this can result in any heavy fines for you and your organization, and an imprisonment for manslaughter in serious cases. However, you must first understand the problem completely to prevent Legionella. Although there is a lot of information available online about Legionella and Legionnaires' disease, understanding what you need to know to minimize the risks associated with such fatal bacteria can be difficult and take a time. We prepared a short e-book that covers all important topics about Legionella and Legionnaires' disease. Information that you will learn from this book: Where does legionella grow? How is it spread? How is it transmitted to humans and why must you care about such fatal bacterial? Whether you are a professional on water management, a business owner, a home owner, a health and safety professional, or a person responsible for managing the water systems, this e-book is for you.
The Legionella Test must be conducted regularly to ensure that the water systems in your plant are safe. The regular tests can help to prevent any potential and sometimes fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease and can provide safety of the employees, customers and people.
How often must I do a test for Legionella? The frequency of testing the Legionella will depend on the regulations in your industry and country, and the levels of risk associated with the water systems. Some facilities such as hotels, hospitals or nursing homes have higher risks due to any sensitive customers and patients. Furthermore, the actual physical risks caused by a specific water system increase due to complexity and age of the water system. When the regular tests are considered, there are other things to consider such as the consistency and accuracy of such checks or the history of the water system. If legionella is found previously at dangerous levels in the system, you may need to conduct a test more frequently. The content of your water management program and your risk assessment must give any information about the testing approach, frequency of sampling, the number of samples taken and their locations.
The Legionella Test Kits and Hydrosense Legionella Test Kits use the Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assay (LFICA) technology. The same technology is also used in the pregnancy tests. The test is designed to detect Legionella antibodies in the water samples and biofilms, allowing the user to obtain any accurate results almost immediately on site. Any various test kits are available to respond to any triggering messages in different industries and countries.
Legionella occurs naturally and is seen commonly in any ponds, rivers, and other natural water systems. However, when bacteria enter the surrounding water systems, the conditions such as water temperature allow bacteria to spread quickly. This can lead to epidemics of Legionnaires' disease (LD) and other related infections. Learn how temperature can affect growth of Legionella.
Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of Pneumonia that causes fatal complications to occur in the human lungs. Any water source that produces aerosols, including cooling towers, spas and pools, fountains, showers, car washes, air conditioning units, humidifiers, etc., should be considered at risk of contamination by Legionella bacteria.
Legionnaires' disease is a serious form of Pneumonia that causes fatal complications to occur in the human lungs. It must be accepted that any water source that produces aerosols, including the cooling towers, spas and pools, fountains, showers, car washes, air conditioning units, humidifiers, etc., is at risk of contamination by Legionella bacteria.
How Legionella can infect human lungs? If the infection is not controlled or treated early, it can cause confusion, coma, heart failure, and finally death. According to the World Health Organization, the mortality of Legionnaires' disease can be 40 to 80% in the untreated patients and can be reduced to 5 to 30% through a proper case management. In recent years, it is observed that there is an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases all around the world. The reported Legionnaires' disease cases had increased at an alarming rate. Between 2011 and 2015, cases of infection increased by 42%, and Europe observed the largest number of cases ever reported (total notification rate 1.37 per 100,000 of the population and mortality 8.1%).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Legionnaires' disease cases have increased around 4.5 times since 2000 only in the USA. The scientists estimate that such cases may be caused by the effects of climate change such as increased temperatures and precipitation, etc., and any infection cases will continue to increase. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, briefly CDC also reports that, although Legionnaires' disease increases, many businesses and individuals still ignore the risks associated with Legionella bacteria. In both domestic and industrial environments, it is important to be aware of the risks presented by Legionella, because the consequences of ignoring them are serious. If we don’t do all things that we must do to reduce the risk in your plant, this can result in any heavy fines for you and your organization, and an imprisonment for manslaughter in serious cases. However, you must first understand the problem completely to prevent Legionella. Although there is a lot of information available online about Legionella and Legionnaires' disease, understanding what you need to know to minimize the risks associated with such fatal bacteria can be difficult and take a time. We prepared a short e-book that covers all important topics about Legionella and Legionnaires' disease. Information that you will learn from this book: Where does legionella grow? How is it spread? How is it transmitted to humans and why must you care about such fatal bacterial? Whether you are a professional on water management, a business owner, a home owner, a health and safety professional, or a person responsible for managing the water systems, this e-book is for you.
LEGIONELLA TEST:
The Legionella test is a standard part of risk control, monitoring and evaluation, controls the situation and monitors the direct impact of the corrective action or the events exceeding the allowable Legionella levels.The Legionella Test must be conducted regularly to ensure that the water systems in your plant are safe. The regular tests can help to prevent any potential and sometimes fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease and can provide safety of the employees, customers and people.
How often must I do a test for Legionella? The frequency of testing the Legionella will depend on the regulations in your industry and country, and the levels of risk associated with the water systems. Some facilities such as hotels, hospitals or nursing homes have higher risks due to any sensitive customers and patients. Furthermore, the actual physical risks caused by a specific water system increase due to complexity and age of the water system. When the regular tests are considered, there are other things to consider such as the consistency and accuracy of such checks or the history of the water system. If legionella is found previously at dangerous levels in the system, you may need to conduct a test more frequently. The content of your water management program and your risk assessment must give any information about the testing approach, frequency of sampling, the number of samples taken and their locations.
What should I test?
Wherever water droplets (aerosols) are created, there is a risk of infection. Some examples of high-risk areas include the cooling towers and evaporative condensers used for air conditioning, water tanks, showers and faucets, Spa/jacuzzi baths, Ornamental fountains, and especially indoor humidified food displays and other misting devices, water systems of garden hoses used for irrigating the plants.Who is responsible for the Legionella Test?
The officer holder is finally responsible for management of the Legionella risks and implementation and maintenance of control measures. However, he/she does not need to be a designated person responsible for carrying out the risk assessments and tests. If the officer to appoint a responsible person, this is not an unusual situation and may include the external water service specialists. The responsible person must be properly trained and competent and have access to any proper advice and information. Know More About Legionella Education. Can I test for Legionella myself? Traditionally, to test your water for Legionella, you must collect a water sample, send it to the lab, and wait for results for 10 to 14 days. However, new advances in the state-of-the-art water testing technologies have allowed scientists to create new methods for detecting Legionella in water. The hydrosense antigen test can be performed on site and gives any results almost immediately (in 25 minutes). The good news is that Hydrosense testing is so easy that anyone can do it!The Legionella Test Kits and Hydrosense Legionella Test Kits use the Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assay (LFICA) technology. The same technology is also used in the pregnancy tests. The test is designed to detect Legionella antibodies in the water samples and biofilms, allowing the user to obtain any accurate results almost immediately on site. Any various test kits are available to respond to any triggering messages in different industries and countries.