August 31, 2020 zacherlaw 0 Comments

For months, many businesses, buildings, and facilities have remained closed during the COVID-19 outbreak. The temporary shutdowns have likely resulted in a reduction of normal water use in the buildings, which can create dangerous conditions for returning occupants, as States are reopening their local economies. One microbial hazard businesses should consider when planning their reopening is Legionella. Legionella bacteria causes Legionnaires’ disease, a serious type of pneumonia. It is found naturally in freshwater environments, but can grow and multiply in common, human-made water systems like hot tubs, spas, showerheads, decorative fountains and water features, large plumbing systems, and cooling towers…

January 29, 2018 zacherlaw 0 Comments

While the past few posts have highlighted various ongoing news stories relating to Legionnaires’ disease, this post seeks to take a step back and to review some basic information and insight on Legionnaires’ disease. With that in mind, this post will start off by reviewing some of the basic signs and symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease and in addition, how one can have it diagnosed. Essentially when thinking of Legionnaires’ disease, it is important to remember that it is similar to various other forms of pneumonia (i.e. lung infections). As such, some common symptoms an individual might encounter if they have…

May 10, 2017 zacherlaw 0 Comments

According to the World Health Organization, males are three times more likely to acquire Legionnaires’ Disease than women. (source) As of now, there is no vaccine for Legionnaires’ Disease. The most common form of treatment is typically antibiotics. 75% of reported Legionnaires’ Disease cases are aged 50 years and older. (source) Legionnaires’ Disease is most likely to occur in the summer months. This is because legionella bacteria thrives in warmer water. (source) While Legionnaires’ Disease is typically transmitted by aerosolized water droplets, there have been numerous outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease that have been caused by legionella bacteria found in potting…

April 5, 2017 zacherlaw 0 Comments

The first recorded outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease happened in 1976 in Philadelphia at a conference for American Legion members. There were a total of 182 cases of the disease, 29 of which were fatal. Legionnaires’ Disease is a form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacteria. Legionnaires’ Disease is also known as legionellosis. The disease takes anywhere from 2 to 14 days to take hold within the body. There are over 50 species of legionella bacteria. The most common by far is legionella pneumophila. Species of legionella are often named after the area in which they were found. There is a species of legionella called…

April 4, 2017 zacherlaw 0 Comments

Marc Edwards, a Virginia Tech Civil and Environmental Engineering professor released a selection unpublished results from his team’s study of the 2015 outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease that killed 12 people in Flint, Michigan. Edwards, who is most known for sounding the alarm about the dangerous levels of lead in the Flint water system in 2015, believes that the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak is a result of the water supply switch to the Flint river, coupled with the lack of any application of anti-corrosive and chlorination treatments. To conduct this study, Professor Edwards and his team simulated the outbreak in a lab. Edwards and his…

June 29, 2016 zacherlaw 0 Comments

A new website aimed at spreading information about Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease has recently been launched. PreventLegionnaires.org provides basic facts about disease transmission and prevention, and offers advice to managers and businesses on how to manage risk and implement plans to keep Legionella in check. The website also offers downloadable resources specific to healthcare facilities and industrial or commercial buildings. PreventLegionnaires.org is published in association with the CDC and a number of health organizations, and it is funded by several companies that produce cooling towers. Cooling towers have sometimes been to blame for the spread of Legionella.   For more…

March 10, 2016 zacherlaw 0 Comments

         The marvel of modern medicine has drastically changed the way society functions on an everyday basis. Obviously the benefits of the advancements from the past century outweigh the drawbacks, but some issues have arisen from our progress that threaten the very purpose for which the advancements were made. For instance, the discovery of the first antibiotic, Penicillen, in 1928 by Alexander Fleming was one of the most groundbreaking advancements in modern history, and has allowed for the treatment of bacterial infections since. This greatly reduced the death rate and pioneered a new realm of medicine that has been…

March 8, 2016 zacherlaw 0 Comments

        Most occupations adhere to standards of safety or quality that are developed over many years, and designing interior building systems is no exception. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) is an organization that produces updated standards and guidelines for jobs involving central systems in buildings. The guidelines are not guaranteed to prevent accidents or eradicate risks, but are generally considered the best ways to prevent undesirable occurrences. The ASHRAE 12-2000 Guideline, entitled Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, focuses on what architects, construction companies, and maintenance employees…