Legionella Management for
Long-Term Care Facilities
Protecting Nursing Homes and Long-Term Facilities from Legionella
Legionella is an organism commonly found in nature, which can occasionally form and spread in water systems, and which can lead to the potentially life-threatening Legionnaires Disease. The CDC has addressed the dangers of Legionnaires Disease (LD), and advises facilities with complex water systems to manage water to protect against Legionella – especially long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
What to Know About Legionella and Legionnaires Disease
• People over the age of 50 are more at-risk of getting Legionnaires Disease than others.
• Those with compromised immune systems or chronic illnesses are also at higher risk for LD.
• Other factors, such as smoking, can increase a person’s chance of acquiring LD.
• LD can be spread through aerosolized water, which includes steam from showers, fountains, and other everyday applications.
• LD is a potentially life-threatening respiratory disease.
• Healthcare facilities that house patients overnight, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities are strongly encouraged to have a water management plan that includes protection against Legionella.
• New water treatment standards regarding Legionella are becoming more common, with many facilities being required to adopt Legionella-specific management plans.
How to Manage Legionella and Reduce Liability
In accordance with ASHRAE Standard 188, and with more and more local and national requirements, many facilities are requiring water treatment plans that protect against Legionella. FCT Water offers water management plans to reduce the risk of Legionella and Legionnaires Disease from water so that facilities remain compliant with new regulations. Our experts can formulate a plan for your specific facility and work with you to make sure it fits into your operations. The only truly effective means of defending against Legionella is to have a proper water management plan in place. A good water treatment plan can reduce health and safety risks, as well as liability risks to keep your business running smoothly and safely.
For More Information
Check out the CDC Vital Signs Report and ASHRAE Standard 188, which offer insight into new standards regarding water system maintenance and the dangers of Legionella in complex water systems. As these new standards become more widely accepted and even required by many facilities across the United States, it is in the best interest of healthcare facilities with such systems to develop water management plans and procedures if they haven’t done so already.
The only real way to prevent Legionella and other major issues associated with un-managed water is with effective water treatment. If you believe that your facility might be at risk, please feel free to contact FCT Water using the form at the bottom of the page. We’d love to hear from you!