Legionellosis Prevention and Control

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many organisations not operating at all, or operating with reduced staff. This has, in turn, lead to conditions of extended under usage and/or complete stagnation of water systems in buildings and houses alike. Stagnation of water systems, in combination with other enhancing factors like elevated temperatures, presence of organic debris, and inadequate biocide concentrations, leads to rapid multiplication of many harmful waterborne bacteria.

Legionellosis, an atypical form of pneumonia caused by the legionella bacterium, claims thousands of lives every year around the globe. Waterborne legionella bacteria enter domestic and industrial hot and cold water systems through the mains supply and multiply rapidly under specific systemic conditions, as stated above. Dissemination of these contaminated water droplets into the atmosphere exposes humans to the bacterium and, depending on the risk factor, causes a severe form of pneumonia which can be lethal.

This GLOMACS online training course will concentrate on the management of the risk arising from legionella bacteria in a wide range of high-risk applications, like healthcare premises, the industrial sector, and the hospitality industry. In this respect, it will examine in detail all those factors involved in an effective Legionella Management Plan (LMP). Core knowledge on water storage and distribution systems, water biochemistry, the physiology of the bacterium and how it behaves under different environmental conditions will be acquired in this course.

By the end of this training course, you will be able to:

• Understand the physiology of the legionella bacterium and its behaviour in different ecosystems
• Assess water quality and identify risks relating to legionella proliferation
• Identify all major sources that are responsible for Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks
• Apply the basic principles and guidelines of international regulations and related leading documents to carry out a legionella risk assessment
• Design and implement a monitoring plan for the control of legionella bacteria in your organization
• Understand the obligations arising from regulatory compliance and the legal implications in the event of a legionnaires’ disease outbreak

This GLOMACS online training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Professionals responsible for water systems in the Healthcare sector and Hospitality industry   
• Engineers involved in the design, construction, maintenance, and monitoring of water systems in the Process Industries
• Health and safety consultants involved in risk management
• Professionals involved in regulatory monitoring of potable water supplies
• Professionals involved in the drafting of water quality and general health and safety guidelines
• Laboratory personnel - especially those involved in Legionella sampling