Making headlines recently is the ugly bacteria known as Legionella. This bacterium can cause either Legionnaires disease or Pontiac fever. Legionnaires is a serious type of pneumonia that has to be treated in the hospital with antibiotics. Pontiac fever is a milder, influenza like illness that generally resolves on its own.
Most Legionella outbreaks are associated with hotels, resorts, cruise ships, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. Hospitals need to be especially careful about these diseases because patients are often highly vulnerable to them. About 5,000 cases of Legionnaires disease are reported to the CDC each year.
Legionella can grow or spread anywhere there is stagnant water or areas that are continually wet. Humans get this disease by inhaling the mist of infected water. Examples of areas where this bacterium can grow include water heaters, water storage tanks, ice machines, decorative fountains, humidifiers, and cooling towers. Though there is no vaccine against these diseases, disinfecting works well to reduce bacteria.
Misco offers a variety of products that can help disinfect these areas where Legionella manifests. Fresh Breeze, A2Z, and the One Step Series will all be able to handle and prevent outbreaks.
