Approaches To Legionella Environmental Monitoring in Building Risk Assessments: Sampling Plans, Results Interpretation and Remediation
Premise Microbial Testing
Oral Presentation
Prepared by
Contact Information: jstout@specialpathogenslab.com; 412-281-5335
ABSTRACT
There has been a renewed focus on the prevention of building-associated Legionnaires’ disease stemming from recent outbreaks and new regulations and standards. Failures that contributed to building-associated outbreaks will be reviewed. Proactive prevention through risk management and control strategies have the promise of improving water safety, especially for healthcare facilities. Establishing through environmental testing whether Legionella is present and what type of Legionella bacteria are present is a necessary first step in evaluating risk. Critical steps include establishing a sampling plan, proper sample collection, and results interpretation. Important concepts will be reviewed including risk stratification of Legionella species, establishing specifications for laboratory proficiency, common mistakes in sample collection, why one Legionella species does not predict the presence of another species (L. pneumophila), and why zero disease is the desired endpoint and not zero Legionella.
Premise Microbial Testing
Oral Presentation
Prepared by
Contact Information: jstout@specialpathogenslab.com; 412-281-5335
ABSTRACT
There has been a renewed focus on the prevention of building-associated Legionnaires’ disease stemming from recent outbreaks and new regulations and standards. Failures that contributed to building-associated outbreaks will be reviewed. Proactive prevention through risk management and control strategies have the promise of improving water safety, especially for healthcare facilities. Establishing through environmental testing whether Legionella is present and what type of Legionella bacteria are present is a necessary first step in evaluating risk. Critical steps include establishing a sampling plan, proper sample collection, and results interpretation. Important concepts will be reviewed including risk stratification of Legionella species, establishing specifications for laboratory proficiency, common mistakes in sample collection, why one Legionella species does not predict the presence of another species (L. pneumophila), and why zero disease is the desired endpoint and not zero Legionella.
