Legionella... the facts!
1. Legionnaires' disease can be fatal......
Have your water systems been out of use during the lockdown? Beware! Legionella could be lurking in your showerheads, dishwashers, pools or water features.
Use cleaning product that passes EN 1276 or EN 13623 to fight these nasty bacteria. Clean fast is a great product for all round use in bathrooms, is also BS EN 1276 and will not only remove the Legionella bacteria but will also remove the scale and any organic matter.
If you are just soaking the shower heads etc in a bucket of water, you can also use any BS EN product that you have. This one, or one similar to this should be in any commercial kitchen so it’s a great product to have. Kitchen Cleaner Sanitiser is both BS EN 1276 so suitable for sanitising areas infected with Legionella and also sanitising surfaces that are used for food preparation.
Legionellosis is a collective term for diseases caused by legionella bacteria including the most serious: Legionnaires' disease – a type of pneumonia. The risk of getting seriously ill increases with age. Some additional groups at higher risk include heavy smokers as well as people with respiratory illnesses, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease or an otherwise impaired immune system.
2. Legionnaires' disease can result from inhaling water droplets containing legionella....
When water containing Legionella is aerosolised and those particles are inhaled into the lungs, they can cause Legionnaires' disease. An average of 350 cases of the disease are reported each year in the UK. Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pains and confusion. It can take up to a year to fully recover.
3. Pools, hot tubs, water tanks, dishwashers, ice machines & fountains could be affected
Legionella bacteria have been found in water systems ranging from 6°C to 60°C, although they grow best at 20–45°C. Warm and stagnant water is an ideal growth environment for Legionella.
Lower flow rates of water in pipes, like those during the lockdown, can accelerate growth. Bacteria can colonise in plumbing, showerheads, water storage tanks and hot water cylinders as well as cooling towers, spas, hot tubs, pools and water features.
4. Keep water < 20c or >60c and look for EN 1276 and EN 13623
Water should either be under 20°C or over 60°C to prevent legionella growth. Treatment chemicals are often used in swimming pools and spas to kill legionella.
Chemicals like chlorine are effective at killing the bacteria, but they must be used responsibly and at the correct ratios. Look for products that pass the British Standard EN 1276 or 13623 when shopping for cleaning products that kill legionella.
Use cleaning product that passes EN 1276 or EN 13623 to fight these nasty bacteria. Clean fast is a great product for all round use in bathrooms, is also BS EN 1276 and will not only remove the Legionella bacteria but will also remove the scale and any organic matter.
If you are just soaking the shower heads etc in a bucket of water, you can also use any BS EN product that you have. This one, or one similar to this should be in any commercial kitchen so it’s a great product to have. Kitchen Cleaner Sanitiser is both BS EN 1276 so suitable for sanitising areas infected with Legionella and also sanitising surfaces that are used for food preparation.
Do you have a Legionella strategy?
If you have never considered a Legionella strategy because the bacteria has never been a problem, there is no better time to start than right now. Our experts can guide you through different considerations when fighting against legionella growth.
