Professions Susceptible To Legionnaires' Disease

Which Environments and Activities Are Linked to Legionnaires’ Disease?

Legionella bacteria are present within fresh water and soil all over the world. They cannot survive in salt water, they remain dormant at temperatures below 20 centigrade, and can be killed by temperatures above 60 centigrade. Their ideal breeding temperature is around 30 – 45 centigrade – the temperature of the human body, but also a temperature that is common in a range of water systems including air-conditioning units, hot and cold-water systems, showers, baths, spa baths and even ornamental fountains. As a result, there is a variety of places and situations in which you might be more likely to contract the disease.

Holidays

Nobody wants to get ill during their holidays, but alongside food poisoning, Legionnaires’ Disease can too commonly be a holiday illness. Hotels, resort complexes and cruise ships often have large air-conditioning systems that can heat or cool the entire premises. These systems often include large cooling towers, often built on rooves or away from public areas so as to reduce noise. If the bacteria are allowed to enter these areas, they can spread throughout the entire building, or ship, enabling the bacteria to spread to a large number of potential victims.

Sipping a drink in the hot spa or whirlpool bath might sound idyllic, but if proper cleaning and maintenance has not been carried out you could be putting yourself at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease by inadvertently breathing in the contaminated water vapour, or even swallowing some of the water and subsequently breathing in any tiny droplets.

If the bacteria are present in the water supply, then even breathing the contaminated water vapour from a shower could be enough to allow the bacteria into your lungs.

Hospitals

Big buildings such as hospitals commonly have large air-conditioning and water systems like those of hotels. If the Legionella bacteria manages to get into the water supply or air-conditioning system it can easily spread to other water sources and increase the risk of contamination. An added concern within the hospital environment is the reduced immune function or strength of many of the patients. If someone who is already ill becomes infected with Legionellosis of any type, the outcome can be more severe, in many cases fatal.

Nursing Homes

While everyone is susceptible to Legionnaires’ Disease infection, care home or nursing home residents are likely to be particularly vulnerable due to age and any existing long term health issues – as a result water systems in care homes require particularly stringent checks and maintenance to ensure the continued safety of residents. Where this is neglected and an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease occurs, the results can be extremely serious. 

At Work

Depending on the nature of your job, and the environment in which you work, you could be susceptible to contracting Legionnaires’ Disease while at work. People who work in hotels, on cruise ships and in hospitals are just as much at risk as those visiting or staying in those premises. Anyone whose job involves them working with water systems or air-conditioning units could be at an increased risk, but those who work in office blocks can be just as susceptible if the bacteria gain entry to the water systems there. Gardeners and groundskeepers who use sprinkler systems can be at risk, even firefighters going into buildings where the sprinkler system has been in use can be more susceptible. Employers have a responsibility to reduce and manage any risk of illness or injury to their employees and ensuring that procedures are in place to manage Legionnaires’ Disease falls within that remit.

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