The CDC's Five Steps to Preventing Respiratory Illness.

Although nine out of 10 Legionnaires' disease cases are preventable, older workers and those with compromised immune systems continue to be diagnosed each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People working in facilities that utilize water in different ways (heating/cooling/potable use, etc.) are susceptible to contracting this disease. In 2015, a large outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease caused by a cooling tower occurred in a medically vulnerable New York City community. The outbreak prompted enactment of a new city regulatory rule on the operation and maintenance of cooling towers. Ongoing surveillance and evaluation of cooling tower process controls will determine if the new rule reduces the incidence of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City.

The growing prevalence of Legionella-related diseases and increasing awareness about the preventive measures are major factors driving the market growth. Therefore, the severity of such infections and large number of population prone to infection has increased the demand for accurate and on-time diagnosis of Legionellosis and other related infections. The CDC has provided five steps that can be taken to ensure workers are safe from the respiratory illness.

Step One: Validate the Effectiveness of Your Water Management Plan

Step Two: Test for Legionella pneumophila

Step Three: Rely on a Culture Test

Step Four: Make Sure Results are Accurate and Reproducible

Step Five: Choose a Laboratory That is Accredited for Legionella Testing

We will explore each of these steps over the next few weeks. Earthwise Environmental specializes in managing and optimizing water systems for Legionella prevention. Contact us today for a free assessment.