THE LEGIOLERT PROTOCOL

摘要

Legionnaires' disease is of particular concern to healthcare estates managers, as it typically takes a long time to confirm the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water system and the effects of the disease can be fatal. It is estimated that up to 70% of all building water systems may have some degree of contamination,1 with both potable and non-potable systems at risk. Potable sources include taps, showers, ice machines, humidifiers and hydrotherapy pools. Non-potable include air conditioning cooling towers; many major outbreaks have been associated with these sources. Of the numerous species of Legionella, the primary causative species of Legionnaires' disease is Legionella pneumophila. Between 2014 and 2016, in England and Wales there were 1,070 reported cases of Legionnaires' diseases, with 99.7% of cases being identified as being caused by Legionella pneumophila. [Public Health England Legionnaires' disease in residents of England and Wales - 2016. March, 2018]