Legionella

This disease was diagnosed for the first time in the United States of America in the year 1976, after an outbreak in the city of Philadelphia within the framework of the annual convention of the American Legion. During this outbreak at least 220 of the legionaries participating in the event contracted a strange infection that caused them an atypical pneumonic picture that caused the death of 34 legionaries, which is why both the disease and the causal agent involved was baptized with the name.

Legionella is a bacterium of the genus Legionella (Aerobic Gram-negative microorganisms) that has its habitat in natural aquatic environments, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, etc., in which it is always present. When it multiplies, it can not only transmit diseases to the human being, but it can also affect the water supply of cities.

For this multiplication to occur, a series of requirements must be produced, among them the stagnation of water or that the temperature is between 20º and 45º C.

The bacteria legionella produces a disease known as legionellosis, which can manifest itself in the form of lung infection, known as “Legionnaires’ disease” (atypical pneumonic picture with high fever), or as a weak febrile syndrome, in which case it receives the name of “Pontiac fever” (mild illness). In the case of legionellosis, the species of bacteria involved in 90% of cases is L. pneumophilia.

Since 1996, it has been on the list of notifiable diseases in Spain.

Outbreaks of legionellosis often attract the attention of the media and alarm the community and even health personnel, because they are often related to specific facilities or spaces. However, this pathology can appear in an ordinary way as an isolated case, without being associated with any outbreak recognized by the health authorities.

Epidemiology and Transmission

Epidemic outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease occur when people inhale droplets of water (aerosols) contaminated with Legionella. Exposure can occur in various private or public spaces such as hospitals, hotels, homes or offices. The period of drought favors the occurrence of the epidemics, being able to observe the epidemics during the summer or in the first days of the autumn; however, the presentation of clinical cases by L. pneumophila can occur during any time of the year.

Contrary to what many people believe, we must be clear that this disease is not transmitted through drinking water or ingested food. Nor is it ever transmitted from person to person or from animal to person.

This bacterium can affect people of any age, however, there are some risk factors to develop the infection. It is considered that men older than 45 years with smoking and people immunocompromised by different causes (AIDS, cancer, immunosuppressive drugs, among others), have a higher risk of contracting the infection and suffering from the disease.

Risk Facilities

They are considered as risky facilities that allow the bacteria to survive and multiply, forming at the same time aerosols, such as showers or faucets.

Of the installations with risk, the most dangerous are those of sanitary hot water that distribute the water through the network of pipes. The risk is considerable in the communal hot water tanks, from which the bacteria can multiply and colonize the showers of the houses.

On the other hand, systems that heat water instantaneously, without a tank, such as heaters, do not entail any risk.

Prevention and control

The prevention of the disease is based on guaranteeing an adequate maintenance of the risk installations, trying to reduce the growth and dispersion of the bacteria that cause legionellosis. During outbreaks it is crucial to achieve the rapid identification of the source of disease infection, in order to carry out the corresponding treatment for its elimination.

Various prevention measures can be taken, depending on the facilities.

Cold water tanks

They should be covered with a waterproof cover and avoid excessive heat. Likewise, they should be cleaned and disinfected annually, and if possible, have a system of continuous water renewal.

Centralized hot water system

In this case you should have a company to clean the tanks and carry out appropriate preventive treatments, at least annually.

Electric thermos or combustion boiler with accumulator

The accumulator should always have a temperature of more than 60ºC, and should not be turned off at night.

Set of faucets and showers for the dwelling

In this case it is important to avoid the use of filters, and, if they have, they should be subjected to a thorough cleaning.

Once a week they have to purge the faucets that are used little, for which we will let the water run through them for at least 5 minutes.

It is recommended that the diffusers are thick, especially in showers. At least once a year, they must be dismantled and disinfected. The latter can be done with bleach, submerging them in it.

Jacuzzi or hot tubs

In this case the most recommended is to clean and disinfect the bathtub every time it is used.

Air conditioning equipment

Once a year, the condensate collection trays should be cleaned, which should be disinfected with bleach.

In Control y Ventilacion, S.L. we manufacture and market our PANAL C & V filler and C & V SEPARADOR, drops separator for Cooling Towers that, among its great advantages, are manufactured in High Density Polyethylene (PDHD), material resistant to any biocidal treatment indicated for the elimination of the bacteria.

As for the Drops separator, C & V SEPARADOR, its high efficiency certified by the UMH guarantees the transmission of drops to the outside, thus avoiding its possible inhalation.

www.controlyventilacion.com/relleno-y-separador/

Control y Ventilacion, S.L. is a company of international renown within the industrial and livestock sector, for being a manufacturer of products within the evaporative cooling sector, such as the HUMIBAT, evaporative plastic cooler; or its NUCLEOS towers, Cooling Towers. In both products, the substrate in which the evaporative process is produced is a plastic honeycomb, a honeycomb resistant both to physical and chemical attacks, and at the same time flexible, a honeycomb with a mesh structure, made of polyethylene High Density, and marketed under the names of PANAL C & V or in the case of being a drop separator, SEPARADOR C & V .

For more information you can see the following links:

www.controlyventilacion.com/refrigeracion-evaporativa/

www.controlyventilacion.com/relleno-y-separador/

www.controlyventilacion.com/torres-de-refrigeracion/

www.controlyventilacion.com