The Importance of Legionella Testing

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. Legionella are naturally found in streams, rivers, pools, and ponds. Legionella can survive water treatment plant biocides and flow through potable water systems. Quantitative routine legionella testing is needed to determine if your legionella management plan is working.

Legionnaires' disease (legionellosis) – Legionella bacteria are inhaled into lung air sacks and grow in white blood cells which produces fluid in the lungs that blocks air exchange. Symptoms are fever, chills, muscle ache, and chest pain. more. Legionellosis can be treated with antibiotics, but about 10% percent of people with the disease die.

It can be found in common places – Legionella are found in water systems such as hot tubs, showers, fountains and hot water systems. Legionella grow in warm water-containing mechanical equipment and are released as a mist that you can inhale and become infected. Equipment associated with legionellosis includes cooling towers next to or on top of buildings, car wash facilities, grocery store vegetable misters, hot tubs, fountains, and other aerosol-producing equipment. There is a 2016 guideline from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that helps building owners reduce the legionella hazard.

Though outbreaks of this Legionnaires’ disease are rare, it is still important to have legionella testing at your facilities. Legionella risk reduction procedures without legionella testing may not prevent legionellosis cases. So, to accurately protect the environment, yourself, and those around you, be sure to find a trustworthy legionella testing service. Find more information about reputable legionella testing and biosafety procedures at Legionella.com.