Craig Holmes at Dart Valley Systems, outlines a practical approach to the safe management of healthcare water systems to minimise the risk of Legionella colonisation, and in turn prevent patients from contracting Legionnaire’s disease.
Legionnaires’ disease – a potentially lethal disease that can thrive in hot and cold water systems, remains an ever present threat in the UK, with a correspondingly robust duty of care placed on Estates, Facilities, and Asset managers, and those responsible for Legionella compliance.
Legionella in context
Legionella bacteria are commonplace in natural aquatic features such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, but the prevailing conditions there mean that Legionella is rarely a threat to human health in these open environments. The risk of infection from Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria can greatly increase in purpose built water systems, such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems, and spa pools. In such situations, the bacteria can multiply and thrive to become a very real danger to human health.
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