Legionella
The Legionella bacteria can cause legionnaire's disease. Infection is caused by breathing an aerosol of water with bacteria, caused by a shower, the vapour from a coolingtower, a fountain or a humidifier. Most people do not get ill after being infected, but the elderly or people with weaker immunesystems are at risk. The disease can be treated with antibiotics. Usually a patient only develops a fever or pneumonia like symptoms. Only in very exceptional cases can the disase lead to death, without proper treatment.
Legionnella is a bacteria which finds itself in low concentrations in water. The bacteria multiplies in stagnant water at temperatures between 20 and 55 degrees Centigrade.
Sources of Contamination
Potential sources of such contaminated water include cooling towers used in industrial cooling water systems as well as in large central air conditioning systems, evaporative coolers, hot water systems, showers, whirlpool spas, architectural fountains, room-air humidifiers, ice making machines, misting equipment, and similar disseminators that draw upon a public water supply. The disease may also be spread in a hot tub if the filtering system is defective. Freshwater ponds, creeks, and ornamental fountains are also potential sources of Legionella. The disease is particularly associated with hotels, cruise ships and hospitals with old, poorly maintained pipework and cooling systems.
Regulation and Liability
If an employee is infected with the bacteria this can cause fever or worse, Legionnaire's disease. Employers have to ensure that the legionella bacteria can not multiply and spread. In many countries health and safety regulations enforce regular controls and implementation of prevention methods. For cooling towers controls and monitoring regimes are enforced.
If legionella infections happen at a care-facility or hospital, or at a hotel or recreation facility, or in a building with a public function, this has additional implications:
- patients are worried, customers stay away;
- your employees are busy dealing with legionella rather than their regular activities;
- and if it appears that your institution has not follwed rules and regulations for legionella prevention, you may be liable as a director.
