Could a Single Vaccine Prevent Colds, Flu… and Potentially Legionnaires’ Disease? Researchers at Stanford University have announced promising early results in the development of a so-called universal vaccine designed to provide broad protection against multiple respiratory pathogens. Animal trials suggest it may offer short-term immunity against a range of viral and certain bacterial infection
How to Write a Water Safety Plan As the importance of managing waterborne risks continues to rise across healthcare, commercial, and public settings, the use of Water Safety Plans (WSPs) has become more widespread. Originally developed by the World Health Organization, these plans take a proactive, structured approach to maintaining water system safety, ensuring that […]
Is Legionella Bacteria Becoming Antibiotic Resistant? In this article the water safety specialists at Legionella Control International look at the role of antibiotics in protecting humans against pathogenic organisms, paying particular attention to waterborne bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and legionella. The article begins by looking at research from the World Health Organisation ident
What is an Expert Witness You may have heard the term expert witness before but are unsure of the details or intention behind the term. They sometimes appear as characters in a television courtroom drama, which does suggest how the role plays out. However, we’ll provide details in this article that go beyond the drama […]
How to Test for Legionella in Cooling Towers If you’ve read reports of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks over the years, you’ve likely read about cooling towers as well. They’re among the most common culprits for outbreaks of the disease. Proper testing, cleaning and maintenance of these towers is therefore crucial in making sure outbreaks are prevented. […]
Travel Advice: How to Avoid Legionnaires’ Disease on Holiday In this article, our expert legionella and water safety specialists take a look at the risks of contracting Legionnaires’ disease while on holiday, and what travellers can do to protect themselves. The article gives travellers some simple, but very effective advice on things they can do […]
The Dangers of Mycobacterium Abscessus in Healthcare Water Systems In this article the healthcare water safety specialists at Legionella Control International highlight the dangers posed by Mycobacterium abscessus in healthcare water systems. The review begins by looking at where environmental mycobacteria can be found and under what circumstances this bacterium become a danger to human […]
Hospital Water Supply Contaminated With Mycobacteria Abscessus Kills Two Patients A UK coroner has ruled that the deaths of two women, Anne Martinez and Karen Starling, followed exposure to Mycobacteria abscessus. An inquest has found that they were likely to have contracted the infection from a contaminated water supply at the new site for the […]
ECDC Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Report 2020 In this article the water safety specialists at Legionella Control International review the latest Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Report published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The review looks at the main findings from the ECDC report including the number of reported cases and how this […]
Expert Review of the New BS 8580-2 for Pseudomonas Risk Assessments In this technical review the water safety specialists at Legionella Control International take a detailed look at the recently published British Standard Code of Practice, BS 8580-2:2022 which deals with risk assessments for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other waterborne pathogens.