Three important pieces of evidence have been revealed through the media so far about the outbreak at the Sands Resort. The owner did not have a permit for the spa, there was legionella bacteria in numerous places through out the hotel and not just the spa, and numerous people who have been associated with the hotel who have contracted the disease. These facts are important for the following reasons. Permits are issued to make sure the spa holder complies with all regulatory requirements, e.g. the amount of chlorine in the spa. Finding legionella in two different water systems within the…
Jules Zacher has been retained by two persons who contend they have contracted Legionnaires disease at the Sands Resort in Hampton New Hampshire. An Order issued by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services indicates that the bacteria that causes the disease has been found in a hot tub, water heater, outdoor shower hose, and shower heads or sinks. The state Department of health has ordered the Sands Resort to notify all guests of the outbreak and to hire a consultant to remediate. Testing by the CDC indicates the legionella bacteria was found in shower heads or…
About a month ago, Transparency Market Research estimated that the global legionella testing market was valued at US$180 million in 2016. In addition, Transparency Market Research also estimated that the testing market would reach around US$398.7 million by 2025. Perhaps one of the biggest factors for future growth moving forward is that the incidence rate is increasing globally, particularly in developing regions. With this higher incidence of infectious diseases comes a steady increase in the demand for diagnostic kits and with it the global legionella testing market is expected to substantially grow. As it stands now, the incidence rate of…
Last week, researchers at the Technical University of Munich announced that they had developed a microarray rapid test which can detect Legionella in around 35 minutes. Now there is, in fact, a rapid test for detecting Legionella currently in clinics; urinalysis. But according to the head of the research group and the Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry at the Technical University of Munich PD Dr. Michael Seidel, the urinalysis test “serves only as a first indication and is not suitable for screening the water of technical systems,”. The research is part of the “LegioTyper” project which is funded by the German…
About a month ago, we wrote about Spartan Bioscience and their rapid on-site Legionella DNA testing. Last Wednesday, Spartan Bioscience announced their results from a study examining Canadian federal government buildings. This 12-week long study tested 51 different cooling towers across Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto and compared their weekly on-site Legionella DNA testing against the monthly Legionella culture testing that at the moment, tends to be the far more common method for testing. The Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) designed and ultimately performed this study in collaboration with Spartan Bioscience, a notable partnership since PSPC is one of the…
Back in February, it was reported by KFOR that around six employees who worked inside the Robinson Renaissance Building had tested positive for Legionella bacteria. In addition, it was also revealed through lab results that the Legionella bacteria was located within one of the building’s cooling systems. Now new testing has been conducted on the downtown Oklahoma City building, testing which shows the building has been cleared of Legionella bacteria. This was revealed when KFOR was given additional information about the extensive testing which had taken place at the building since back in February when KFOR first received the information.…
This past Monday, February 19, a Philadelphia-based global molecular solutions company called Invisible Sentinel Inc. announced its first-in-class Legionella species assay had been verified and adopted by a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ELITE Certified Laboratory called Q Laboratories, Inc. The CDC ELITE, or Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation, is a CDC designation for labs that have shown proficiency with isolating, growing, and identifying Legionella from samples collected in the environment. Traditional screening methods, however, can often take up to two weeks so a development like the one touted by Invisible Sentinel would certainly mark a significant improvement. The new…
Last Wednesday, officials with the Illinois’ Department of Human Services made a statement that a patient at the Chester Mental Health Center, a mental health facility in southern Illinois, had tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease. In the statement, the officials also said that the patient from the mental health facility was being treated and is in stable condition. In response to the incident, the Chester Mental Health Center stated that it would be working with the Illinois’ Department of Public Health to find the source of the bacteria and maintain extensive monitoring other patients. In a news release earlier this week…
On Monday, January 29, 2018, Spartan Bioscience announced the launch of their Spartan Legionella Detection System. This product would represent the first on-site DNA test for Legionella and furthermore perhaps one of the fastest tests for Legionella as it can detect and quantify the bacteria in approximately 45 minutes. The detection system uses a portable DNA analyzer along with a single-use disposable test cartridge and was recently announced as the winner of the 2018 AHR Expo Innovation Award for Indoor Air Quality, a competition put on by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). If this product…
Legionnaires’ disease is the disease is caused by bacterium called Legionella, which is found most often in fresh water. Symptoms include pneumonia and, in some cases, the infection can be deadly. He says the infection is not spread from person to person. Instead, you get it by inhaling the bacteria that’s been aerosolized, which means ultamicroscopic particles that are suspended in air or gas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outbreaks are commonly associated with buildings or structures that have complex water systems, such as hotels and resorts, long-term care facilities, hospitals and cruise ships. The…