Preventing New Cases of Legionnaires' Disease in Health Care Environments

CHATSWORTH, Calif. - July 17, 2017 - PRLog -- One in four people that contract Legionnaires' disease from a health care facility dies according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These unsettling figures were posted in June issue of the CDC's Vitalsigns™ publication.

The focus of the document was to raise awareness of the problem of patients contracting Legionnaires' disease in health care facilities and to help prevent future cases. In fact, the CDC shared their belief that four out of every five outbreaks of the disease in a health care setting could have been prevented with an effective water management program in place.

Legionnaires' disease is caused by exposure to Legionella bacteria.  The transmission of Legionella occurs via aerosols, when mists containing the viable bacteria are inhaled.  Some of the common sources listed by the CDC for transmission of Legionella in health care environments include showerheads and sink faucets; hydrotherapy equipment, such as jetted therapy tubs; medical equipment, such as respiratory machines, bronchoscopes and heater-cooler units; ice machines; cooling towers; and decorative fountains and water features.

"It's important that those in charge of health care facilities recognize that the centers they run to help people with illnesses could instead, at times, actually jeopardize their patients' health if an effective water management program has not been put in place," said Franco Seif, President at Clark Seif Clark (CSC).  "At CSC we help to develop, administer, monitor and test water management programs to prevent Legionnaires' disease in medical facilities and other environments with at risk building occupants."

To learn more about water management programs to prevent the spread of Legionnaires' disease or other environmental, occupational, indoor air quality (IAQ), health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark

CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address IAQ, and environmental, health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.