Occasional testing for Legionella bacteria is not an adequate safeguard against a disease outbreak
Flinders University health scientist Dr Harriet Whiley says the high chance of false negative or false positive results in standard environmental sampling methods could potentially enable an outbreak.
In a new research paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Dr Whiley says that we should focus more on Risk Management strategies.
This includes maintaining temperature control and disinfection residuals, as well as preventing stagnant water or warm water causing significant biofilm formation. Rapid testing can also help to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies. Innovative technology used in Legionella field tests, supported by a Smartphone Reader App and an Online Logbook enables the Real Time management of Legionella risk for the first time.