How A Deep Clean Can Vanquish Legionnaire’s Disease

Legionnaire’s Disease is a severe pneumonia-like lung infection that can be caught from the Legionella bacteria. It often thrives in water and ventilation systems, especially in larger buildings such as hotels and hospitals. 

If your building or establishment has extensive ventilation systems for air conditioning or humidifiers, this is a potential risk.

While the bacteria need specific conditions to thrive (including lots of humidity and a water temperature between 20 and 45 degrees C), the danger is one you have to be aware of. 

The most recent government data, for 2023, revealed there were 604 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in England and Wales that year, with a three per cent mortality rate.

In addition to any fatalities, many patients can end up very ill, being hospitalised and requiring antibiotics for weeks. As with other respiratory diseases, those aged over 60 and people with compromised immune systems are the most vulnerable to severe illness.

Because some commercial ventilation systems may exist in areas of high humidity, such as around kitchens or swimming and bathing facilities, the risk of these systems containing moisture at a temperature favourable for legionella is higher.

Given the terrible consequences that can come from an outbreak, both for the victims and your reputation, it is important to take steps to protect your water and ventilation systems. 

A deep clean could be the best way to ensure everything is kept safe, especially afterwards, if you do have an outbreak.

This way, if there are any environments in your premises in which warm water droplets can become airborne, anyone inhaling them will be safe from the bacteria, which a thorough deep clean will have eliminated.

Your ventilation systems may be quite extensive, so a lot of people could be at risk in some instances. 

By having the system thoroughly deep cleaned and maintenance work like rust removal carried out, you can protect everyone using the building as well as your organisation’s good name.