Please click on the link below to read the official Case Report about the sad death of an elderly lady in Italy reported on February 17th 2012.

http://press.thelancet.com/crdental.pdf

The Department of Health report that this is the "first case case of Legionnaires' disease stemming from a dental waterline" even though it is has been widely regarded as a problem area which has led to government legislation document:

Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices which can be found by clicking the link.

The proper control of the legionella bacteria is vitally important and required under government legislation, for more information call:

Vectair Environmental Ltd on 0118 981 7437 or get in touch via our contact page.

The prevention and control of legionella at an Essex hospital remains a "significant concern", according to a health care watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said Basildon University Hospital had taken several measures to combat the disease, but further improvements were needed.

It said three people had acquired the disease while at the hospital in 2011. The hospital's trust said it was already taking further steps to address the issue and other areas of concern. The report followed a recent inspection on 9 February. It said there had been a history of people catching legionella at the hospital, citing 13 cases since 2002.

"More attention needed"

The most recent cases were in August, September and November 2011. The report said the hospital had made an "investment in measures to control legionella" including the introduction of a silver and copper ionisation disinfection system, to replace its chlorine dioxide one. It added a legionella management group met once a month and the hospital worked with several other agencies regarding the outbreaks.

Despite this, the CQC said it was disappointed there were still cases arising and the trust needed to do more to reduce the risk of re-occurrence.

(Read More) Source: BBC News

The proper control of legionella bacteria is vitally important and required under government legislation, for more information call:

Vectair Environmental Ltd on 0118 981 7437 or get in touch via our contact page.

A Newtownabbey Leisure Centre has said a company hired to test for a bacteria which causes legionnaires' disease has admitted producing fake test results.

The Valley Leisure Centre was given the fabricated results over a six-month period last year. Legionnaires' disease can be caused by breathing in water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria. The centre employed a well-known east Belfast-based compay to carry out monthly checks.

The chief executive of Newtownabbey Borough Council Jacqui Dixon explained what happened. "The council received an anonymous letter last week which made allegations about the testing of Legionella in our swimming pools. So we launched an immediate investigation into the matter," she said.

"As a result of the company who were involved in the testing admitted that our results were falsified for a six-month period during 2011."

The council has said the swimming pool does not pose a risk to the public, however the spa area remains closed while further tests are carried out. Billy Webb, mayor of Newtownabbey, said: "I cannot believe any company would carry out such an action."

The Health and Safety Executive is now investigating what happened. In a statement, the company said said they were in the process of issuing legal proceedings against a former employee. They said they were investigating what they described as an anonymous and defamatory letter and would issue a fuller statement once legal clearance had been given.

(Read More) Source: BBC News

Despite the above story, getting legionella testing is a legal requirement and part of government legislation guidance ACoP L8, for more information call:

Vectair Environmental Ltd on 0118 981 7437 or get in touch via our contact page.

Thorough guidance on decontamination in primary dental care should control any risks from legionella.

That's according to the Department of Health today in light of a case of an elderly woman who died from Legionnaire's disease after she contracted the infection from a dental practice in Italy.

The DH issued a statement, after the case was reported in The Lancet. A government spokesperson said that it 'required practices in England to comply with best practice guidance on controlling the risks from legionella and to carry out a risk assessment'.

Doctors in Italy confirmed that the 83-year-old woman who died from Legionnaire’s disease contracted the infection from a dental practice.The patient had only left home twice within the incubation period of between 2 and 10 days and both trips were to the dentist.

Samples of water were taken from the waterline, the tube that supplies water to dental instruments and analysed. All three samples of the water tested positive for the Legionella pneumophila bacteria and the sample from the water pump was particularly convincing.

This is the first case of diease stemming from a dental waterline, depsite the fact that it is kown that the germ can effect waterlines.

The Department of Health spokesperson said: 'There have never been any cases of Legionnaire’s disease traced to contaminated dental surgery equipment in the UK, but we will continue to keep all evidence under review.

'The Department of Health has thorough guidance on decontamination in primary dental care, requiring practices in England to comply with best practice guidance on controlling the risks from legionella and to carry out a risk assessment.

Further treatment has started at a Guernsey hospital after tests showed a higher level of Legionella than authorities were "prepared to accept".

Following work in January the majority of the hospital's water supply has tested within acceptable levels. But Richard Evans, director of corporate services, said higher bacteria levels in water at the new clinical block meant further treatment. It will involve the water being heated and chemically treated.

Mr Evans said: "This is the only area of the hospital that remains a concern and it is the hot water supply in this area that needs further treatment.

"As before, this work will be done in a way that will minimize the inconvenience to patients and staff and ensure that normal operation of the clinical block continues while the treatment is taking place."

In a statement the Health and Social Services Department said it would be conducting further testing next week to check the levels of bacteria following this latest treatment.

It said no cases of related illness had been identified in patients, visitors or staff, but that staff remained vigilant for signs of infection. The department said the treatment process was a precautionary measure and until it was carried out water in the new clinical block of the PEH remained safe for routine use.

(Read More) Source: BBC News

If you need your water checked/treated it is vitally important that all measures are taken in controlling the risk of Legionella, for more information please call

Vectair Environmental Ltd on 0118 981 7437 or get in touch via our contact page.