Legionella in Hilton hotel outbreak – 3 contract Legionnaires disease.

Three people were diagnosed with Legionnaires disease which they contracted while staying in the Tel Aviv Hilton. Inspectors confirmed that the presence of Legionella bacteria in the hotel water system. The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that all three of the hotel clients had used the showers and bathrooms located on the lower floors.

Hotels are particularly vulnerable to Legionella attacks, because they have large complicated water supply systems and an intermittent usage i.e. rooms sometimes empty. Higher standard hotels like the Hilton chain also provide good air-conditioning, spas and in some cases water misters. All of these generate aerosols which is the primary infection pathway for the disease. Dare we also mention that the more luxurious hotels also have an older clientele which is more susceptible to contracting the disease. The associated reputational risk adds to the burden on these luxury hotels.

There is no doubt that an immediate and current knowledge of the condition of the water system in an hotel aids timely management. Rapid testing is an important part of maintaining the integrity of a water system and checking that the inevitable lapses in control measures have not compromised that integrity. This helps to prevent Legionella outbreaks, protecting staff, customers and reputations.

Large buildings such as hotels, hospitals, museums and office blocks are more vulnerable to legionella contamination because they have larger, more complex water supply systems in which the bacteria can grow and from which they can quickly spread.