Legionnaires' Disease Regulations Failing UK's Ageing Population

A research team from the Brunel University London has revealed there is still a notable risk of Legionnaires’ disease being contracted by the older segment of the population. While current UK regulations and guidelines covering the control of legionella do well at covering the risks posed in health and social care settings such as hospitals and care homes for the elderly, they do not go far enough in protecting those who live independently within the community. Learn more...

Landlords Guide to Managing Legionnaires’ Disease

Under UK law residential landlords have responsibilities to ensure their tenants are not at risk of exposure to legionella bacteria and infection from Legionnaires’ disease. In most cases, a residential landlord renting a small domestic property will need to conduct a legionella risk assessment and nothing more – it’s unlikely there will be a need to carry out water testing. This is because most domestic water systems are considered to present a low risk of legionella exposure; therefore, a risk assessment will normally suffice in most situations. Learn more...

CQC Compliance for Dentists – Legionella Risk Assessment

In this paper we briefly examine some of the issues associated with regulatory and Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance for dentists and dental practices, looking in particular at the need to carry out a legionella risk assessment to control the dangers from Legionnaires’ disease thay may come from water systems including dental waterlines and specialist equipment. Learn more...

Hospital Water Safety Group Terms of Reference

Within the UK’s NHS and other healthcare environments the Department of Health document HTM 04-01 sets out the need for the formation of a Water Safety Group (WSG). The document also defines the groups terms of reference including its role and responsibilities in relation to the delivery of safe water in healthcare premises. Learn more...

Controlling Legionnaires' Disease. Landlords Risk Assessment Responsibilities

Landlords, business owners, employers, and those in charge of premises, often referred to as the “duty holder” must choose one or more people to be responsible for handling risk assessments and other health and safety matters associated with the water systems found at their premises or workplace. This is to ensure the health and safety of workers, visitors and others is properly protected. Typically, the process would include the preparation of a comprehensive Legionella risk assessment for the presence and possible dangers posed by exposure to Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease. Learn more...

Controlling Legionella in Cooling Towers

From a legionella risk management perspective wet cooling towers and evaporative condensers (equipment that use water as part of the cooling process) are considered high risk for various reasons. They have the ability to create and distribute fine water sprays (called aerosols), they process water at elevated temperatures and are often exposed to the atmosphere meaning they can collect organic matter and other debris. All these conditions can significantly increase the potential for the growth and proliferation of Legionella bacteria, sometimes across wide areas, and so raise the risks associated with an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease. Learn more...

Grandfather Dies After Contracting Legionnaires Disease from Garden Hose

A 63-year-old man who died from Legionnaires’ disease in February this year appears to have contracted it via his garden hosepipe. Stephen Clements began developing flu-like symptoms shortly after using the hosepipe in his garden. He had used the hosepipe earlier in the year, and hadn’t emptied the hose once he had finished using it. It appears the hose sat in the sun for a time, with water still inside it. Learn more...

Link Between Travel to Dubai and Legionnaires’ Cases Confirmed by ECDC

A recent spate of cases concerning patients throughout the EU presenting with Legionnaires’ disease has led to a link between these cases and recent travel to Dubai, UAE. While the number of cases presenting is still very small, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has highlighted the link in a recent epidemiological update issued on their website. Learn more...

Historic Ludlow Feathers Hotel Closes After Legionnaires’ Disease Death

A guest who stayed at The Feathers Hotel in Ludlow, Shropshire in July has been confirmed to have died from Legionnaires’ disease, according to recent news reports. She is thought to have been in her sixties, and a resident of Merseyside, and passed away in the middle of August. This follows another case of Legionnaires’ disease suffered by another guest of the same hotel earlier in the year. That case involved a woman in her seventies who was diagnosed with the disease in April, but later recovered from the illness. Learn more...

How to Register Cooling Towers & Evaporative Condensers

Many people have questions concerning cooling towers and whether they need to tell their local council about them. Here, we look at how to register a cooling tower and council notification; we also provide answers to some of the more common questions from owners and operators of towers and evaporative condensers that arise. Learn more...

Legionella Control International is a world-leading healthcare water safety and Pseudomonas risk assessment specialist. We are expert in the delivery of pragmatic health and safety solutions to hospitals and healthcare organisations that include the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella bacteria and other water borne pathogens that contaminate man-made water systems.

CQC Compliance for GP Practices – Legionella Risk Assessment

This article considers issues around Care Quality Commission compliance for GP practices and in particular the requirement to conduct a legionella risk assessment to control Legionnaires’ disease in healthcare premises. Learn more...

Dirty Shower Heads Could Be Deadly!

There is nothing quite like a steaming-hot shower to perk you up in the morning or to leave you feeling refreshed last thing at night. But if you thought your shower was a clean and safe haven of tranquillity, think again. Chances are, it could be a breeding ground for deadly bacteria and you may not even realise it. Learn more...

What is Legionnaires' disease? Get the facts in under 30 seconds

We’ve created this useful Infographic titled “What is Legionnaires’ disease” to help people quickly understand more about the disease, what it is, where it comes from, who’s most at risk, typical symptoms, how it’s treated, sources of risk in the workplace and the legionella risk assessment process. Learn more...

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Training: Managing Pseudomonas in Augmented Care - LCA 7000

LCA 7000 is a City & Guilds accredited one day classroom based Pseudomonas training course designed specifically for candidates who require an introduction to the control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in augmented care units, hospitals and other healthcare premises in accordance with the Department of Health’s Health Technical Memorandum HTM 04-01, including Part C: Pseudomonas aeruginosa – advice for augmented care units.

UK Hospitals Faced with Candida auris, a Drug-Resistant Japanese Fungus

UK health officials have confirmed over 200 hospital patients throughout England have been infected with a Japanese fungus that has proven to be resistant to drugs. The fungus is known as Candida auris and was first identified in Japan. The fungus is referred to as a Japanese fungus because the first case was found in 2009 in a patient in Japan. Learn more...

What is a Water Safety Group or WSG for Hospitals?

The UK’s Department of Health document HTM 04-01 – safe water in healthcare premises (part B), sets of the need for the formation of a team of experts referred to as the Water Safety Group or WSG. In the NHS and other healthcare environments the Water Safety Group describes a team of specialists that collectively has the responsibility for creating, implementing, and maintaining a Water Safety Plan (WSP). This plan or WSP is designed to ensure that the water used in hospitals and similar healthcare settings is safe to use by patients, staff and visitors, and poses minimal risk of infection from waterborne pathogens, i.e. through the presence of legionella bacteria, pseudomonas and other unwanted contaminants. Learn more...

What is HTM 00? Building Engineering in the Health Sector

The Department of Health’s HTM 00 may be unknown to some of those working in the healthcare sector, and yet it is an important element to be aware of as it deals with issues associated with building engineering in hospitals and other healthcare premises. Learn more...

Legionella Record Keeping: A Guide for Duty Holders

The UK's Health and Safety Executive publishes plenty of useful information concerning legionella record keeping involving the monitoring and maintenance of water systems such as hot tubs, cooling towers, and hot and cold water distribution systems within premises of many kinds. Understanding how legionella bacteria spreads, how this can be prevented (or at least controlled), and recording what control measures you’ve taken, when they were done, and the results of any tests or checks is vital if you are the duty holder, you are in control of premises, or you are the designated legionella responsible person. Learn more...

What is a Hospital Water Safety Plan or WSP?

In the NHS a hospital Water Safety Plan, or WSP is designed to help staff focus on and reduce the risks that are often found in association with water systems, specifically those used in hospitals and similar healthcare environments. Learn more...