Health & Safety Project

Legionella Program Management

Confidential Hospital System National

Solution Overview

Client:

One of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive hospitals and a leading provider of inpatient, ambulatory, and preventive care.

Business Challenge:

Prevent the exposure of sensitive populations to legionella bacteria.

Solution:

Assess and monitor water management practices to ensure healthy environments for employees and patients:

  • Implement sampling program following ASTM standards.
  • Utilize qualified professionals and subject matter experts to manage program.
  • Holistic approach involving sampling, analysis, reporting and consulting.

Results:

With the support of Apex, liability risk reduction is recognized through improved water quality management practices, resulting in a healthier environment for both personnel and patients.

Challenge

Prevent the exposure of sensitive populations to legionella bacteria, which commonly grow in large aquatic systems such as cooling towers and central air conditioning units. Exposure can result in death for those with compromised immune systems or underlying health issues.

Solution

Apex Companies supported thirteen facilities of a major hospital group in the Northeast with their Legionella program.

The annual program is designed to confirm the efficacy of the water management practices presently in place at the locations. The sampling efforts include potable hot and cold water systems and cooling towers. As part of the sampling program Apex collected water temperature and free residual chlorine measurements. Samples were submitted to a qualified laboratory for analysis of Legionella bacteria by culture technique on specific growth, and were collected in accordance with ASTM Standard D5952-2008 and analyzed in accordance with the International Standard Method 11731 Water quality-detection and enumeration of Legionella (ISO 11731). This includes speciation and serogroup identification.

If positive tests were encountered, Apex collected follow up samples within fourteen days after the hospital personnel complete remediation activity. As part of our reporting process, Apex prepared a summary table of results that includes sample locations, laboratory results, and measurements of pH, free chlorine, and temperature.

Other services provided for similar programs and available to this client have included evaluation of potable and non-potable water systems, risk assessments, plan development, review of existing plans with recommendations for improvements, training of client staff on how to implement programs, or full support from Apex which may include line purging, sampling, database of monitoring and testing results and regulatory reporting.

Results

With the support of Apex, liability risk reduction was recognized through improved water quality management practices, resulting in a healthier environment for both personnel and patients.

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