Legionella Risk Management - Legionella

Legionella Risk Management

This ChABSA Technical Seminar was presented on January 15, 2020 at a joint meeting of ChABSA and the Potomac Section of AIHA by Richard W Gilpin, PhD, RBP, CBSP, SM(NRCM).

The presentation slides are available here, complements of AHMP.

The AHMP Cyber Chapter is an affiliate of the National Alliance of Hazardous Materials Managers Association serving hazardous materials professionals worldwide.

The Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association (ChABSA), is an incorporated, non-profit organization that is an affiliate of the American Biological Safety Association International (ABSA). ChABSA was established in 1987 by local area members of ABSA with a similar interest in the safety of research using microorganisms and recombinant DNA.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is a nonprofit organization serving professionals dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation of environmental stressors in or arising from the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well-being of workers and members of the community.

Topics presented:
Legionnaires’ disease description;
The 1976 Philadelphia outbreak;
The Legionella bacterium & Dx;
Transmission sources;
2019 LD outbreaks;
Risk reduction; and
Decontamination.

Risk factors discussed included:
Recent travel with an overnight stay outside of the home, including stay in a healthcare facility;
Exposure to hot tub aerosol;
Exposure to cooling tower drift;
Age ≥ 50 years;
Smoking (current or historical);
Chronic lung disease;
Immune system disorders due to disease or medication; and
Systemic malignancy.

Site review factors (ASHRAE Standard 188 – 2018) included presence of:
Cooling towers / Evaporative condensers;
Whirlpools / Hot tubs / Spas;
Ornamental fountains;
Misters;
Air washers;
Humidifiers;
Centralized water heaters in multiple unit buildings;
Buildings more than 10 stories high;
Buildings where at risk people stay; and
Buildings where people over 65 years of age stay.

Dr Gilpin is an author, biosafety/microbiology trainer, research microbiologist and recognized expert on quantitative testing of Legionella species in warm water containing mechanical equipment. Most of his 64 publications are available at ResearchGate. He previously held medical school professor-rank faculty positions for 35 years and his consulting includes expert witness testimony on biosafety, legionella and environmental microbiology. Dr Gilpin is a faculty/senior staff retiree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine and is currently a member of the American Public Health Association, the ABSA International, the American Society for Microbiology, and the NSF International Standard 49 Biosafety Cabinetry Committee.