Why Its Important to Test for Legionella
It is no secret that bacteria live on the surface of nearly every single thing on this planet. One particular bacteria, Legionella pneumophila, can commonly be found in any water that resides in a facility. Think large office buildings, hotels, corporations, hospitals, and factories. This bacteria is the cause of 96% of culture confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease, a very serious type of pneumonia that can wreak havoc on your respiratory system. This can be prevented with Legionella testing.
Scientists typically focus on testing for this particular strain of the bacteria because non pneumophila species don’t cause any illness at all.
Luckily, the Veteran’s Health Administration requires that there is testing for this variant in healthcare systems. This is important in keeping patients on the road to recovery, rather than making them more ill. To reduce the risk of disease and keep those around you safe, you need to ensure that your water quality is regularly monitored.
To ensure accuracy, you need to collect ample data. This means determining if Legionella pneumophila is present, what locations are testing positive, and the quantity of the bacteria in each water location. Having robust and accurate data can greatly reduce the risk of a Legionnaires’ outbreak.
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