WASHROOM (INCLUDING LEGIONELLA CONTROL)
Evacuate Infection
Cleaning systems specialist Kaivac
highlights the importance of and offers tips on how to prevent both staff and patients/ residents within a care environment from contracting Legionnaires’ disease.
When we think of how someone acquires Legionnaires’ disease, we typically think of inhaling bacteria, usually from fouled air coming from an HVAC system. However, there is evidence that we can also catch the illness from washrooms and washroom cleaning. Housekeepers, staff, and patients within medical facilities and long-term care locations are particularly vulnerable.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND Legionnaires’ disease occurs when people breathe in mist or vapour contaminated with a type of bacteria called Legionella. Healthy people exposed to Legionella often do not get sick, but it can be dangerous, even deadly, for people aged 50 and older – the very age group of people found in many hospital and long-term care locations.
In a restroom setting, the bacteria may be contained in airborne droplets, such as mists and vapours and can then be inhaled. Often, Legionella develops in the facility’s plumbing system and is released when someone takes a shower, for instance, with the water temperature between 20-45°C. The water needs to be closer to 60°C to kill the bacteria.
Just as it can be released when taking a shower, it can also come from drinking fountains, faucets, urinals, and toilets. All of these fixtures release a mist, but especially urinals and toilets when flushed. In many parts of the world, this phenomenon is known as “toilet plume.” In one test involving C. difficile, it was found that when a toilet is flushed with the seat up, as many as 50 droplets are sprayed several inches into the air, many of which carried the C. difficile bacteria. Once airborne, the bacteria could be inhaled.
“Legionella can be dangerous, even
deadly, for people aged 50 and older.”
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These same researchers also pointed out that many of the toilets they used for their tests were in hospitals. Ironically, in many UK hospitals today, the lids have been removed so patients and users do not have to touch the lid, all in an attempt to stop cross contamination and keep people healthy.
While transmission of Legionnaires’ is by inhalation, we should also note that when cleaning restroom fixtures using typical cloth and sprayer methods, the cleaning cloth can build up with the Legionnaires’ bacteria as it is used. This gives the bacteria more opportunities to spread to other surfaces and become airborne.
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