Preventing Legionellosis

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. Victims who recover from legionellosis often suffer severe pulmonary disease that can cause long-term or permanent damage. Debilitating effects to kidneys and in the nervous system can occur within days after becoming infected. Therefore, curing the acute illness is not nearly good enough. Prevention of the disease is necessary. Fundamentally, legionellosis is evidence of the failure to properly maintain water systems. It is the only cause of serious pneumonia that people get from their building's water systems. Most cases result from inadequate water treatment and poor water system management. Commercial conflicts of interest often impede correct action for the prevention of legionellosis. Legionellosis is preventable. The biological hazard caused by Legionella bacteria in water systems can be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels under operating conditions. Many thousands of legionellosis cases could be prevented each year if hazard control methods were used within the context of well-designed hazard analysis and control plans. Every building water facility should have a water management plan and budget that includes water safety. 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.