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Upgrade your Legionella defenses
Legionella poses a major health and economic challenge for industries. Early detection allows you to maintain operational continuity while ensuring regulatory compliance.
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Facts about Legionnaires' disease
Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, which naturally grows in water systems, especially in industrial cooling towers.
10%
people with Legionnaires' disease die from complications.
25%
Of those who contracted Legionnaires' disease in a healthcare facility, many die from it.
Legionnaires' disease causes over 25,000 hospitalizations and 4,000 deaths annually in North America
Reasons why most buildings are exposed to waterborne pathogens and Legionella proliferation:
History of Legionella in the system
Ineffective water treatment
Natural occurrence of waterborne pathogens
Where do legionella come from?
Legionella pneumophila is primarily found outdoors in soil and water but rarely causes infections. The main risk is airborne from cooling towers, which can harbor the bacteria. It may also spread through fountains, pools, hot tubs, plumbing systems, and showers. Most outbreaks occur in large buildings where the bacteria thrive. Home water tanks are generally safe if the heater is set to 60ºC (140ºF) to prevent Legionella contamination.
The danger comes from inhaling microscopic water droplets containing the bacteria, which can be all around you. The closer you are to the contaminated plume, the more likely you are to be affected.
What are the effects of legionella?
Symptoms of Legionnaires' disease develop 2 to 14 days after exposure to Legionella
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Coughing, which can bring up mucus and sometimes blood
- Chest pain
- Confusion mentale
- Lung infection
- Can cause infections and wounds in the heart
Pontiac fever is a mild form of Legionnaires' disease and here are its symptoms:
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Does not affect the lungs
Symptoms usually disappear within two to five days.
How to prevent epidemics?
Your building requires a water management program to reduce the risk of Legionella in its water systems. This program should pinpoint areas where Legionella could grow, allowing for contamination prevention. Such programs are now standard for large U.S. buildings with cooling water systems.
90%
outbreaks were due to problems that could have been prevented through more efficient water management, according to CDC investigations.