Attn: All Regulated Health Care Providers
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella bacteria. People can get sick when they breathe in mist or accidently swallow water into the lungs containing Legionella. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has prepared a Legionella Control Toolkit which provides public health officials, building owners, and facility operators with concise, actionable information on controlling Legionella in commonly implicated sources of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks. It helps focus and improve Legionella control efforts and protect the safety of a building’s employees, visitors, and surrounding community.
Use this toolkit to:
- Help evaluate hazardous conditions in systems that are commonly associated with Legionella
- Implement Legionella control measures per ASHRAE Guideline 12-2020 external icon
- Complement existing resources for Water Management Programs (WMP), including the CDCToolkit: Developing a WMP to Reduce Legionella Growth and Spread in Buildings
- Support environmental assessments conducted during public health investigations
Reminder
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) administers the Wisconsin State Plumbing Code which covers the disinfection requirements in Subchapter V – SPS 382.50. The disinfection methods listed assist in the control of bacteria within hot water plumbing distribution systems. Helpful DSPS contacts, plan review, and publications covering the various options for disinfection are available at https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/Plumbing/Default.aspx.
Feedback
CDC welcomes feedback on this toolkit. Email RDB@cdc.gov with thoughts and suggestions. Please also see the CDC webpage at Legionnaires Disease and Pontiac Fever | Legionella | CDC for more information.
