Legionella
E-news -- 7 October 2003
**IN
THIS ISSUE**
1. Reported LD Cases Still Up This Year
2. Janet Stout's Presentation on LD Associated with Home Plumbing
3. Potable Water Disinfection Methods
4. Legionella Papers Wanted
5. Legionella Training Courses in Maryland and San Diego
6. Upcoming Live Internet Seminars
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1. REPORTED LD CASES STILL UP THIS YEAR
==================================================================
The July issue of Legionella E-news included a note on the rise in
reported cases of Legionnaires' disease this year in comparison with the
same period in 2002. According to a story in today's Washington Post,
reported cases are still up from last year, especially in Maryland, DC,
and Virginia where the number of cases has tripled. Health officials do
not know the reason but suspect it could have something to do with
heavier than normal rainfall. The full story is posted at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53100-2003Oct6.html.
==================================================================
2. JANET STOUT'S PRESENTATION ON LD ASSOCIATED WITH HOME PLUMBING
==================================================================
At the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
(ICAAC) last month, Janet Stout presented data implicating home plumbing
systems in cases of Legionnaires' disease. The press showed great
interest in the information. The report Home Plumbing Systems How to Reduce Your Risk of
Legionnaires' Disease and Other Bacterial Infections, which can be
downloaded for US$14, outlines recommendations for reducing the risk of
Legionella in home plumbing. For more information, go to http://www.hcinfo.com/312info.htm.
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3. POTABLE WATER DISINFECTION METHODS
==================================================================
In "Pure + easy: Selecting a domestic water disinfection
system" (Health Facilities Management, Sept. 2003), Matt Freije
gives an overview of seven disinfection methods for potable water: heat
flush, chlorination, ultraviolet, ozonation, copper-silver ionization,
chlorine dioxide, and monochloramine. The article is posted at
http://www.hospitalconnect.com/hfmmagazine/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpa
th=AHA/PubsNewsArticleGen/data/0309HFM_FEA_PureAndEasy&domain=HFMMAGAZINE
(Note: clicking on this link will not work; you must paste the entire
URL--both lines of it--into your browser).
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4. LEGIONELLA PAPERS WANTED
==================================================================
Do you know of a recently published paper on a topic related to
Legionella or other waterborne pathogens? Please e-mail (mf@hcinfo.com)
or fax (1-619-839-3166) it to Matt Freije unless doing so violates
copyright laws. (Some of you have been sending papers, which I greatly
appreciate.)
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5. LEGIONELLA TRAINING COURSES IN MARYLAND AND SAN DIEGO
==================================================================
Two courses are scheduled:
*
29-30 October 2003 in Dunkirk, Maryland, at the brand new training
facility operated by Patuxent Environmental Group. Dunkirk is 40 miles
from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport and about 34 miles
from Reagan National Airport.
*
5-6 November 2003 in San Diego, at the Naval School of Health Sciences,
located across the street from the famous San Diego Zoo and close to the
harbor and beaches. (Advance registration is required because names of
registrants must be submitted to security before the course.)
The
course will include government and industry guidelines, legal issues,
risk reduction strategies, preventive policies for domestic water
systems, cooling towers, and other devices; sampling methodology,
interpretation of water test results, outbreak response, domestic water
disinfection methods, and case studies. Attendees will also see videos
of CNN and CBS Legionnaires' news coverage, and a documentary about the
Philadelphia outbreak in 1976 that led to the discovery of the disease.
The
tuition of $575 ($495 for three or more) includes a course manual, copy
of Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing
Risk, certificate, and 1.2 CEUs.
Seating
is limited. To register or get more information, go to http://www.hcinfo.com/legionella2daycourse.htm.
==================================================================
6. UPCOMING LIVE INTERNET SEMINARS
================================================================== *
Minimizing Conditions for Legionella and Other Bacteria in Domestic
Water Systems (Matt Freije), Thurs, 23 Oct 2003, 9:00am Pacific
*
Disinfecting Potable Water Systems (Matt Freije), Fri, 24 Oct 2003,
9:00am Pacific
*
Legionnaires' Disease: Update on Diagnosis, Treatment, Microbiology,
Environmental Monitoring, and Disinfection (Janet Stout, PhD), Wed, 12
Dec 2003, 9:00am Pacific
*
Reducing the Risk of Legionella in Cooling Towers (Matt Freije), Tues,
16 Dec 2003, 9:00am Pacific
Each
course is about 90 minutes in length and costs US$159. For more
information, go to http://www.hcinfo.com/satellitecourseinfo.htm.
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(c)
Copyright 2003, HC Information Resources Inc. You have permission to
send this newsletter to others, post it on your web site, or include it
in listserv posts, under the strict condition that you include the
following notice to properly credit the source: "Excerpted from
Legionella E-news, a free e-newsletter available at http://hcinfo.com."
THANK
YOU!
Matt
Freije, Editor
HC Information Resources Inc.
Tel: 760-494-3063
Fax: 619-839-3166
hcinfo@hcinfo.com
http://hcinfo.com
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