Legionnaires' disease, a pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacterium, is the leading cause of reported waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States. Legionella occur naturally in water from many different environmental sources, but grow rapidly in the warm, stagnant conditions that can be found in engineered water systems such as cooling towers, building plumbing, and hot tubs. Humans are primarily exposed to Legionella through inhalation of contaminated aerosols into the respiratory system. Legionnaires' disease can be fatal, with between 3 and 33 percent of Legionella infections leading to death, and studies show the incidence of Legionnaires' disease in the United States increased five-fold from 2000 to 2017. Management of Legionella in Water Systems reviews the state of science on Legionella contamination of water systems, specifically the ecology and diagnosis. This report explores the process of transmission via water systems, quantification, prevention and control, and policy and training issues that affect the incidence of Legionnaires' disease. It also analyzes existing knowledge gaps and recommends research priorities moving forward.

Water is the major natural reservoir for legionellae, and the bacteria are found worldwide in many different natural and artificial aquatic environments, such as cooling towers, water systems in hotels homes, ships and factories, respiratory therapy equipment, fountains misting devices and spa pools. This book provides a comprehensive overview on the sources, ecology and laboratory diagnosis of legionella. Guidance is provided on risk assessment and risk management of susceptible environments. The necessary measures to prevent, or adequately control, the risk from exposure to legionella bacteria are identified for each identified environment. Outbreaks of legionellosis generally cause a high level of morbidity and mortality in the people affected and as such the suspicion of an outbreak warrants immediate action. The policies and practice for outbreak management and the institutional roles and responsibilities of an outbreak control team are reviewed. This book will be useful to all those concerned with legionella and health, including environmental and public health officers, health care workers, the travel industry, researchers and special interest groups.

Legionnaires' Disease : The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems

GoalsLegionnaires' disease is a severe infection caused by Legionella bacteria that affects more than 10,000 people in the United States every year, with 10% of those people dying from the disease. The goal of this guide is to educate professionals involved with water safety and management programs, including infection preventionists, risk management professionals, public health professionals, safety officers, facility managers, engineering and maintenance staff, water treatment professionals, and consultants. Through the education and training provided in this guide, we hope to reduce the risk of Legionnaires' disease in facilities. The information in this guide will complement in-person training programs on Legionnaires' disease and water safety and management. By working together, we can end Legionnaires' disease!

Preventing Legionellosis covers the biology of Legionella and presents a comprehensive review of best practices for legionellosis prevention from around the world. Recent outbreaks, climbing incidence rates and pending lawsuits have raised public awareness about legionellosis, a serious, preventable form of pneumonia that can be contracted from water systems in buildings. Legionellosis has harmed millions of people worldwide and causes annual monetary losses in the billions. However, to really understand the effects of the disease, one must listen carefully as the victims, or their survivors, describe the suffering they have endured. Preventing Legionellosis provides concise detail for: Improving awareness and education Implementing water management plans Mitigating against commercial conflict of interest The book will give the scientific basis for the worldwide technical consensus on the prevention of legionellosis. It will be an invaluable source of information for public health administrators, epidemiologists, infection control professionals, facility safety managers, industrial hygienists, and academic engineers and scientists.