Legionella how to prevent an outbreak

Everyone has heard of the bacterium Legionella, but not everyone knows what exactly it is and how to prevent the spread of this dangerous bacterium. In this blog, you will read more about Legionella and how to prevent an outbreak.

Legionella disaster

On 25 February 1999, the Legionella disaster started in Bovenkarspel, in the province of North Holland. It started with a fire hose and a hot tub, but ended with 206 seriously ill and even 32 deaths due to legionellosis (aka Legionnaires’ disease). This resulted in the establishment of the Veterans Disease Foundation where fellow sufferers can gather and educate about this life-threatening bacteria.

What is legionella?

Legionella pneumophila is a bacterium that can lead to legionellosis, also known as Legionnaire’s disease or Legionnaires’ disease. The bacterium thrives in a watery environment, especially warm water. It can spread through various sources of infection such as water pipes, showers, hot tubs, fountains and cooling towers.

How can a Legionella outbreak occur?

There are several factors that contribute to the growth of legionella. Stagnant water, poor maintenance of water treatment systems and a temperature between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius are ideal conditions for the bacteria to multiply. In addition, pollution, biofilm and deposits in pipes can also promote the growth of legionella. This is because these are an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria, so that they can multiply at breakneck speed.

Legionella in industry

In industrial environments, several factors can contribute to the growth and spread of Legionella. Cooling towers, humidification systems, process water systems and industrial water tanks are often potential sources of contamination. These systems often contain water that provides the ideal temperature and nutrients for the bacteria to grow.

Consequences of a Legionella outbreak

A Legionella outbreak in industry can have serious health and operational consequences. It is therefore important to minimise the risks and take appropriate preventive measures.

1. Health risks: A legionella outbreak can lead to serious health problems for workers and others who come into contact with contaminated water. Legionellosis, the disease caused by Legionella bacteria, can lead to symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, pneumonia. In some cases it can even be fatal, especially in people with weakened immune systems or underlying health problems.
2. Loss of productivity: A Legionella outbreak can lead to the (temporary) closure of the production environment or even the entire company. Cleaning, disinfecting and repairing contaminated water systems can take a lot of time and disrupt normal business operations. This can lead to significant productivity and financial losses.
3. Reputation damage: A Legionella outbreak in the industry can lead to negative publicity and reputational damage. The public may lose confidence in the company and potential customers may be reluctant to do business. A poor health and safety reputation can have long-term consequences for the company, both financially and in terms of image.
4. Legal and financial consequences: Companies can be held legally liable as a result of a Legionella outbreak. Victims of legionellosis can claim damages, which can lead to high legal costs and financial compensation. In addition, companies can be fined and penalised by the relevant authorities if they fail to comply with legionella prevention laws and regulations.

Prevention

By being proactive and taking preventive measures, companies in the sector can avoid a legionella outbreak. The purchase of a machine from Water is a good example of this. This machine produces a disinfectant that is not only effective against Legionella, but also against Salmonella, Listeria, E. Coli, biofilm and many others.

Watter-system

The Water-system produces a highly effective disinfectant that consists only of electricity, water and salt. This disinfectant has been extensively tested and has passed several EN tests. It is also approved for PT 2 to 4, which means that it is approved for applications such as water for industrial, agricultural purposes. As well as water for cooling and heating purposes and water for recreational purposes