Category Archives: Cooling Towers

EU – Legionnaires’ disease – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2019

Posted on May 25, 2021 by | Leave a comment

ECDC

Legionella_Plate_01

ECDC’s annual surveillance reports provide a wealth of epidemiological data to support decision-making at the national level. They are mainly intended for public health professionals and policymakers involved in disease prevention and control programmes.

Executive summary

  • Legionnaires’ disease remains an uncommon and mainly sporadic respiratory infection with an overall notification rate in 2019 for the EU/EEA of 2.2 cases per 100 000 population.
  • There is heterogeneity in notification rates between EU/EEA countries, with the highest rate reported by Slovenia (9.4 cases per 100 000 population).
  • The annual notification rate increased in recent years, from 1.4 in 2015 to 2.2 cases per 100 000 population in 2019.
  • There was a marginal decrease of less than 1% in the number of reported cases in 2019, compared with 2018.
  • Four countries (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) accounted for 71% of all notified cases in 2019.
  • Males aged 65 years and above were most affected (8.4 cases per 100 000 population).
  • Only 10% of cases were culture-confirmed (10%) probably meaning that disease caused by Legionella species other than Legionella pneumophila is under-estimated.

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Legionnaires’ disease – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2019 – EN – [PDF-2.1 MB]

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Denmark – Legionnaires’ disease in Denmark in 2020

Posted on May 10, 2021 by | Leave a comment

SSI

Legionella_Plate_01    CDC legionella

278 cases of legionnaires’ disease were detected in Denmark in 2020. Of these, 94.6% had been infected in Denmark. That is the highest number ever.

The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has issued the annual report on how many cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LS) were found in Denmark in 2020.

A total of 278 cases of LS, also known as legionella pneumonia, were detected. Of these, 165 were men (59.4%) and 113 women (40.6%).

Out of these, 39 patients died within 30 days after the disease had broken out or they had been hospitalized. It gives a mortality rate of 14%.

Almost 95% infected in Denmark

Out of the 278, 263 people were infected in Denmark. This corresponds to 94.6%. This is an increase of 25% compared to the average for the last three years, and thus the highest number ever.

“The increase in the number of infected in Denmark may be related to a higher test activity in 2020. It may be due to the fact that many hospitalized patients with suspected covid-19 have also been examined for legionella infection,” says head of department Søren Anker Uldum from SSI.

15 infected on travel

There are only 15 cases (5.4%) where people in 2020 were infected with LS when traveling abroad. In 9 cases, it was while traveling in Europe. 5 were infected while traveling in Asia and 1 traveling to the American continent.

The proportion of travel-related LS cases is usually 20-25%

“Due to the extensive travel restrictions in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been very limited travel activity. This is probably the reason for the few travel-associated legionella cases in 2020 ”, says Søren Anker Uldum.

Read more

You can read more about Legionnaires’ disease here.

You can also see the annual statement for legionnaires’ disease in Denmark in 2020 here .

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Legionella risks during the coronavirus pandemic

Posted on April 9, 2021 by | Leave a comment

HSE

Legionella_Plate_01

Employers, the self-employed and people in control of premises, such as landlords, have a duty to protect people by identifying and controlling risks associated with legionella.

If your building was closed or has reduced occupancy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, water system stagnation can occur due to lack of use, increasing the risks of Legionnaires’ disease.

You should review your risk assessment and and manage the legionella risks when you:

If the water system is still used regularly, maintain the appropriate measures to prevent legionella growth.

You can find out what Legionnaires’ disease is, where it comes from, how people get it and symptoms and treatment by reading our guidance What is Legionnaires’ disease?.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Risk of Legionella is high when offices reopen after lockdown

Posted on March 28, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Digital Journal

Once more offices open up, following the easing of coronavirus measures, a new danger presents itself – Legionnaires’ disease. This arises because of poorly maintained water and air conditioning systems.

The number of cases of Legionella is increasing globally, with a marked change recorded in the U.S. The number of cases now stands, typically, at 10,000 cases per year. The disease is a form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria (L. pneumophila). These organisms can be inhaled into the lungs through water aerosols and droplet, suspended in the air when water is used. Signs and symptoms typically include fever, cough, and chest pain, and it can result in death in up to 10 percent of cases.

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Research – Rapid Testing and Interventions to Control Legionella Proliferation following a Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Associated with Cooling Towers

Posted on March 21, 2021 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Legionella_Plate_01

Most literature to date on the use of rapid Legionella tests have compared different sampling and analytical techniques, with few studies on real-world experiences using such methods. Rapid tests offer a significantly shorter feedback loop on the effectiveness of the controls. This study involved a complex of five factories, three of which had a history of Legionella contamination in their cooling water distribution system. Multiple sampling locations were utilised to take monthly water samples over 39 months to analyse for Legionella by both culture and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Routine monitoring gave no positive Legionella results by culture (n = 330); however, samples were frequently (68%) positive by qPCR for Legionella spp. (n = 1564). Legionella spp. qPCR assay was thus found to be a good indicator of cooling tower system health and suitable as a routine monitoring tool. An in-house qPCR limit of 5000 genomic units (GU)/L Legionella spp. was established to trigger investigation and remedial action. This approach facilitated swift remedial action to prevent Legionella proliferation to levels that may represent a public health risk. Cooling tower operators may have to set their own action levels for their own systems; however, in this study, 5000 GU/L was deemed appropriate and pragmatic. View Full-Text

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Environmental Management of Legionella in Domestic Water Systems: Consolidated and Innovative Approaches for Disinfection Methods and Risk Assessment

Posted on March 13, 2021 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Legionella_Plate_01

Legionella is able to remain in water as free-living planktonic bacteria or to grow within biofilms that adhere to the pipes. It is also able to enter amoebas or to switch into a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state, which contributes to its resistance to harsh conditions and hinders its detection in water. Factors regulating Legionella growth, such as environmental conditions, type and concentration of available organic and inorganic nutrients, presence of protozoa, spatial location of microorganisms, metal plumbing components, and associated corrosion products are important for Legionella survival and growth. Finally, water treatment and distribution conditions may affect each of these factors. A deeper comprehension of Legionella interactions in water distribution systems with the environmental conditions is needed for better control of the colonization. To this purpose, the implementation of water management plans is the main prevention measure against Legionella. A water management program requires coordination among building managers, health care providers, and Public Health professionals. The review reports a comprehensive view of the state of the art and the promising perspectives of both monitoring and disinfection methods against Legionella in water, focusing on the main current challenges concerning the Public Health sector.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – NJDOH Investigates Legionnaires’ Cluster in Union County

Posted on March 4, 2021 by | Leave a comment

NBC

Legionella A

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease — a bacteria-triggered form of pneumonia — in Union County in which at least 14 cases, including one death, were confirmed.

The cases were reported to the state’s Department of Health between Feb. 3 and Feb. 26, according to officials.

Health officials are working with the local health departments in Union County to investigate this cluster. The individual who died was a male resident of Union County in his late 60s.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety