A senior living facility in Columbus has had 4 confirmed Legionella cases. The last known case was reported in February. Legionella is a harmful bacterium that leads to Legionnaires’ disease and can spread to people from various water sources.
Clover Glen, located at 5711 W Broad St, Galloway, OH 43119, is an apartment complex for seniors. Seniors are one of the most at-risk groups for Legionella. Other at-risk groups include those who are immuno-compromised or have a history of smoking.
Building owners and facilities maintenance personnel need to make sure they are utilizing control measures to minimize the chance of Legionella bacteria spreading to people in their buildings. Legionella can spread through two sources, potable and non-potable:
To effectively control Legionella in senior living facilities effectively you must develop a water management plan. This plan should include regular testing, chemical treatment, and control measures. Testing should ideally be from someone ASSE 12080 certified for Legionella testing and sampling, such as technicians from Chardon Labs. This regular testing will identify how effectively your treatment and control measures are, and if Legionella bacteria levels ever get too high, remediation efforts such as flushing or chlorinating water systems can be taken. Chemical treatment would include a piece of equipment, such as a cooling tower or chiller system, that can grow and recirculate Legionella bacteria over time. Biocide chemicals are effective at greatly reducing the number of bacteria in a system. Additionally, control measures in a water management plan, such as regularly running faucets and shower fixtures, are effective. For example, running these faucets in vacant retirement home apartment units once a month is an effective way to help prevent the spread of Legionella. Stagnant water (such as from unused faucets or dead legs in piping) is an ideal place for Legionella bacteria to grow.
ABC 6 reported that a woman had moved into the Clover Glen Senior Apartments in Columbus, Ohio. Then a few weeks later, while attending a birthday party in Cincinnati, her symptoms required her to be hospitalized. The hospital diagnosed her with Legionairres’ Disease. Her son also contracted it from visiting her at Clover Glen Senior Apartments. This retirement community is owned by National Church Residences; they reported to ABC 6 that they were now taking steps to remedy the situation. They are working with the Columbus Department of Health, regularly flushing water systems, installing filters, and working with a water consultant.
Here at Chardon Labs, headquartered east of Columbus in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, we recommend taking preventive steps to minimize the chances of Legionella outbreaks occurring. All our service managers are ASSE 12080 certified and are well equipped to help you minimize the chance of Legionella in retirement home communities. To book a free consultation for our Legionella testing and other services, contact sales@chardonlabs.com or fill out a quick contact form!
Please note that Legionella is a naturally occurring bacterium; it can enter water systems through contact with outside water or air (through airborne aerosol water droplets). As such, trace amounts of it may be present, even with effective Legionella treatment/testing. For the health and safety of the elderly, sick, immunocompromised, or those with lung issues, it is important to take steps to control Legionella at facilities that house or provide services for those aged 50 and over.
