Legionaires Disease
Legionaire's disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which principally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immune suppression and smoking etc.
It is caused by the bacterium Legionella Pneumophila and related bacteria.
Legionella bacteria can also cause less serious illnesses which, whilst not fatal or permanently debilitating, can cause unnecessary suffering and unpleasant after effects.
The collective term used to cover the group of diseases caused by Legionella bacteria is Legionellosis.
First identified in 1976, following a large outbreak of pneumonia amongst an American Legion delegation who attended a convention in the USA, a previously unidentified bacterium was isolated from lung tissue. This bacterium was subsequently named Legionella Pneumophila.
There is a legal requirement to deal with Legionella in all types of water treatment. The government Health and Safety Commission issued brochure “HSC L8” outlines these requirements in details.
ESC is aware of these requirements and we are continually developing and honing our knowledge, products, skills and resources to best combat the spread of this disease.
Cutting edge technology and equipment enable our staff to instantly determine and diagnose the presence of bacteria in water. This gives us a head start on technology that is still used requiring days or weeks to identify potential concerns.
In many cases an instant result is returned enabling a much faster and accurate resolution and control implementation to be effected.
We are continually training and assessing our staff competencies and offer external training – on site and in house – to our customers and their staff.
Likewise our research and development teams across Europe are busy daily with developing new and innovative products and systems to assist our customers in containing this potentially fatal disease.
Our microbiologists and chemists work across Europe and the UK continually analysing samples and systems and making recommendations to combat the spread of Legionella and other contagious and unpleasant afflictions.