Articles on Legionella and Water Management Plans
The Role of HPC in Water Management Programs
Updated on 6/24/19, 8/14/21, and 8/18/22 Heterotrophs are as micro-organisms that require organic carbon for growth (WHO 2017). Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) -- aka "standard plate count," "total bacterial count," and several other terms -- are bacteria colony...
Inspecting Hospitals and Nursing Homes for the CMS Legionella Requirement: 11-Point Checklist
Updated on 6/24/19 To avoid a citation and receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements, hospitals and long-term care facilities must “demonstrate measures” that show compliance with the June 2017 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) “requirement to...
Complying with CMS, ASHRAE 188, and New York Legionella Requirements: 7 Keys to Real Success
Updated on 6/24/19 To avoid a citation for non-compliance with the June 2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) “requirement to reduce Legionella risk in healthcare facility water systems to prevent cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease (LD),"...
Following ASHRAE 188 with Limited Time, Money, and Personnel: Pressure for Building Operators and Health Officials
Let’s be honest. Most people who work in facilities management, infection control, property management, safety, industrial hygiene, or engineering want to protect the people in their buildings from Legionella and other waterborne pathogens—not just in hospitals, but...
Unprecedented Agreement in the United States About the Approach to Legionella Prevention
[Updated July 7, 2020] After Legionella was discovered following the 1976 outbreak of what came to be known as Legionnaires' disease, tremendous amounts of research ensued to find out why water systems promote growth of Legionella bacteria and how the bacteria are...
Four Reasons CDC’s New Toolkit Could Impact Legionnaires’ Litigation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report in early June about the increased number of Legionnaires' disease cases and the need for building water management certainly caught the attention of the media. The Washington Post headline was "Legionnaires’...
Two Keys to Success in Selecting “Evidence-based” Legionella Control Measures
Updated November 22, 2024 One of the important criteria for a Legionella control measure is that it be evidence-based — meaning there is scientific evidence the measure will likely be effective in minimizing Legionella. Two keys to success in selecting...
Six Keys to Disinfecting Cooling Towers Safely (in New York City or Elsewhere)
Updated on 6/24/19 New York City building owners should consider six key safety precautions in complying with health commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett’s August 6th order to disinfect their cooling towers: 1. Perform “online” rather than “offline” disinfection unless...
Five Steps New York City Building Owners can take to Reduce the Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease
Today, health commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett ordered New York City building owners to disinfect their cooling towers within the next two weeks in response to the Bronx outbreak that so far has sickened 100 people and killed 10. The New York Times...
Potential Impact of ASHRAE 188
On June 26th, ASHRAE 188P dropped the “P” and became ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015. What will be its impact on cases of Legionnaires’ disease, the number of lawsuits and litigation related to the disease, laws, and water-related products and services?
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