Legionella E-news -- 21 January 2009
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Legionella E-news, 21
January 2009
HC Info
Matthew R. Freije, Editor
**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Three Babies Die After Contracting Legionnaires'
2. LD Cases Increase Fivefold in Japan
3. Legionella Enews Archives Updated
4. New Legionella Assessment Course Includes Hands-on Training
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1. THREE BABIES DIE AFTER CONTRACTING LEGIONNAIRES'
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Eleven infants born between December 18 and 22 at a private hospital in
Cyprus contracted Legionnaires’ disease. The babies were discharged from
the private hospital in good condition but then admitted to the
intensive care unit of another hospital between December 25 and 29
because of Legionnaires' symptoms. Three of the children have died. As
of January 20th, one of the babies was still in the hospital, not yet
able to breath on its own. The other seven have been treated and
released. Reports indicate that portable ultrasonic humidifiers were the
source. The maternity ward and nursery were closed on December 29th,
immediately following laboratory confirmation of the first cases.
Sources: news media and Eurosurveillance
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2. LD CASES INCREASE FIVEFOLD IN JAPAN
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The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported this month that
reported Legionella infections have increased almost fivefold in Japan
over the past five years. The reseachers speculated that the rise was
due to increased use of public whirlpool spas and hot springs. Source:
The Mainichi Daily News
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3. LEGIONELLA ENEWS ARCHIVES UPDATED
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The archives are at http://hcinfo.com/legionella_enews_archives.htm.
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4. NEW LEGIONELLA ASSESSMENT COURSE INCLUDES HANDS-ON TRAINING
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HC Info’s new three-day training course, “Performing High Quality
Legionella Assessments,” will be held May 19-21 at the Carlsbad Inn
Beach Resort in Carlsbad, Calif.
The course is for engineers, water treatment specialists, and industrial
hygienists that want to provide Legionella assessment services for
hospitals, hotels, or industrial facilities; and for public
environmental health officials that investigate Legionnaires' disease.
The first two days will be in the ocean-view classroom, covering
background facts, government and industry guidelines, risk reduction
strategies, preventive measures for common sources of Legionella
contamination, disinfection of plumbing systems, and water sampling.
Steps in conducting Legionella assessments will be given in detail,
including optimum scope of work, information to gather from the building
operator, systems and devices to inspect, what to look for in each
system, documentation, equipment needed, estimating the time required to
conduct assessments, and pricing. Television investigative news stories
on Legionnaires' disease and a documentary on its discovery will also be
shown.
The third day will be hands-on training. Students will visit a hospital
facility and actually see the steps taken in inspecting plumbing systems
and cooling towers and collecting water samples.
Matt Freije, author of Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A
Guide for Minimizing Risk, will be the primary instructor.
The course is noncommercial--no products or services will be promoted.
Because of the site visit, the class size will be limited to
approximately 15 students.
The tuition of $1195 includes a course manual, copy of Freije’s book,
certificate, breakfast and lunch on the first two days, and
transportation for the hospital site visit. To register or get more
information, visit www.hcinfo.com.
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HC Info provides information and consulting services to protect health
and life by reducing the risk of Legionella and other waterborne
pathogens. We offer facility assessments, waterborne pathogen management
plans, disinfection and other remedial recommendations for plumbing
systems, litigation support, seminars, publications, research, and
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