Legionella contamination News
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Woman Dies After Contracting Legionnaires’ Disease at Dentist Office
An elderly Italian woman died after contracting Legionnaires’ Disease from the water in her dentists’ office in February of last year. Scientists investigating her death said that during the incubation period of her illness, she only left her house twice to visit her dentist. After testing both locations for Legionella bacteria, they found the contamination in the water line supplying ...
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Hot Tubs Contaminated with Legionella Bacteria Identified through PCR Testing
High water temperatures in environments such as hot tubs can make it difficult to maintain the disinfectant levels needed to kill organisms like Legionella. Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause a form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease. Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people in the United States are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease, a condition that can ...
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Legionella Risk in Potable Cold Water Systems
Legionella, a waterborne pathogen, contaminates approximately half of all building water systems, including both potable and non-potable systems. It is typically introduced into building water systems from the municipal cold water supply. Once present, it can thrive in areas of the water system that offer ideal conditions for growth, such as warm water, sediment accumulation, stagnant water, or ...
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Legionnaires’ Disease Kills 3 at Chicago Hotel
According to Fox News, a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak that developed in a Chicago hotel has killed three and infected seven others. At this time, the hotel has not determined where the infectious Legionella bacteria originated, but has taken precautions by draining its fountain in the hotel lobby, the pool, and the hot tub. It also has shut down a portion of its spa. At the time of the ...
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EMSL’s Jason Dobranic Contributes Article to IE Connections
EMSL Analytical’s Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences, Dr. Jason Dobranic, has written a technical feature article that has been published by IE Connections. His article, “Preventing Legionellosis: ASTM and Proposed ASHRAE 188 Standards” discusses the importance of Legionella prevention and identification. Legionella is a Gram negative, rod shaped bacterium that ...
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Could Legionella Bacteria Be Contaminating Your Hot Tub?
Hot tubs that are operated and maintained improperly provide a perfect breeding ground for Legionella bacteria. Exposure to Legionella can cause potentially deadly Legionnaires’ disease and non-fatal Pontiac fever. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe, potentially fatal and debilitating form of pneumonia that has long term effects after the disease has been treated. Pontiac fever is a ...
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Legionella Risk Assessment: Essential Information for Building Owners and Managers
Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Unfortunately, Legionella can be found in any building, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hotels, and office buildings. The good news is that there are steps you can take to identify and manage the risks associated with ...
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Understanding Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) Bacteria in Water Systems
Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) bacteria are naturally occurring organisms commonly found in water systems. While their presence is not unusual, HPC bacteria are not regulated or routinely monitored as contaminants in drinking water due to their high variability and typically elevated ...
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Legionella and Waterborne Pathogens 101 for Plumbing Engineers
Successful plumbing engineering involves the comprehensive understanding and meticulous control of waterborne pathogens, with a particular focus on Legionella. These harmful pathogens can infiltrate building water systems through various means, such as contaminated water sources or inadequate water treatment. To effectively mitigate the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens, ...
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Maryland Hotel Sued after Guest Contracts Legionnaire’s Disease
After six guests at Ocean City, MD’s historic Boardwalk hotel contracted Legionnaire’s disease last summer, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Worcester County Health Department confirmed the presence of Legionella in the hotel’s water system. Five months later, one of the six guests has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the hotel. Extensive testing ...
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Legionnaires’ Disease in Quebec City Has Been Contained
According to CTV News, the Legionnaires’ outbreak in Quebec City has been contained as there have been no new reported cases since August 29th. To date, the outbreak totals 13 fatal cases and 177 illnesses. An ongoing investigation is expected to confirm the source of the outbreak by mid-October. Although it is officially undetermined, many public health authorities believe the source is a ...
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Texas Indoor Air Quality Professionals Identify Legionella Risks
In December, multiple media outlets reported on the tragic case of a Texas newborn who developed Legionnaires’ disease and passed away early last year. The infant was born during a water birth that some health experts believe may have exposed the child to the bacteria that causes the disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Each year, between ...
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Legionella Testing Can Prevent Deaths from Healthcare-Associated Legionella Outbreaks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that hospitals and healthcare facilities need a water management plan and should test for Legionella. The CDC announced that most deaths from healthcare-associated Legionella outbreaks might have been prevented if healthcare facilities proactively tested for Legionella. EMLab P&K, a TestAmerica company, has the largest ...
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Legionnaires’ Disease Reported in Several Recent Outbreaks
Core, one of the most recognized providers of commercial indoor air quality (IAQ) services, provides Legionella testing services to protect building inhabitants from the dangers of Legionnaires’ disease. Pennsauken, NJ, August 12th, 2010 Last month it was reported that at least 31 people became ill at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Michigan. Six of the sick ...
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Puerto Rico’s Legionella Experts Help to Keep Cruise Ships and Other Vessels Safe for Passengers and Crew
The islands of Puerto Rico have a rich maritime history. Since its founding over 500 years ago by Spanish explorers, islanders and visitors have relied on ships and other vessels to move goods, people and provide for recreation. Today, there are a number of major ports that handle freight, cargo and the many cruise ships that either call Puerto Rico home or have it as a major stop on their ...
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Biological Contaminants in the Home Exposed in New Public Outreach Video
Today the IAQ Video Network released the 13th in a series of public outreach videos meant to educate families about important environmental and indoor air quality issues. The public outreach videos have all been produced in the past year covering everything from mold and Legionella to the latest video entitled Biological Contaminants in the Home. The typical home is full of biological ...
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Monitoring Building Water Systems to Prevent Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionellosis is a respiratory disease caused by a type of bacteria known as Legionella. It includes both Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever, which people can develop by breathing droplets of water from the air that are contaminated with the bacteria. Legionella is naturally found in in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. However, according to the Centers for Disease ...
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Legionella, Legionnaires’ Disease & Hot Tubs Discussed in New Online Video
Today, the IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates announced the release of another online video to help educate the public about issues that may impact their health. Their latest educational video discusses Legionnaires’ disease and hot tubs as a potential source of Legionella bacteria. Legionella is a type of bacteria that can cause a form of pneumonia known as ...
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Hurricane Harvey Delivers Catastrophic Property Damage and Indoor Environmental Quality Issues
This past weekend, Hurricane Harvey brought powerful winds and an unprecedented amount of rain that has resulted in devastating floods across large areas of Texas. In addition to tragic deaths as a result of the historic storm, countless homes, schools and businesses have been heavily damaged or even destroyed in some cases. One estimate from an insurance group has put the cost of the property ...
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Healthcare Facilities in Puerto Rico and CMS Requirements to Reduce Legionella Risks
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a survey and certification memo last June stating requirements for healthcare facilities to develop and adhere to ASHRAE-compliant water management programs. These programs are meant to reduce the risk for Legionella and other bacterial and fungal pathogens associated with water systems. Exposure to Legionella sources in healthcare ...
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