PHO Rounds: Legionella Outbreak Investigations: Part lll

Legionella is a bacteria that resides in the environment, usually contracted by inhalation of contaminated aerosolized water from human-made water systems. Exposure can result in Pontiac fever, a self-limited flu-like illness or Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia. This three-part series provides a practical overview of public health investigations of legionellosis, including assessment of the epidemiology, potential environmental sources, appropriate clinical and environmental testing, and environmental control and remediation.

Part 3 (June 8) will describe a cooling tower-associated outbreak investigated by Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, lessons learned and approaches used to communicate with the public.

Intended audience: Public Health Unit (PHU) staff in case and outbreak management, environmental health, Associate Medical Officers of Health (AMOHs), Medical Officers of Health (MOHs)

Note: For the best live experience, please ensure you are using a current version of Zoom (5.14.7 or higher) in Chrome or another modern browser to support interactive features.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe how to do an environmental risk assessment of a cooling tower including the evaluation of bacteria control maintenance programs.
• Discuss the value and interpretation of various environmental testing protocols when investigating Legionella outbreaks.
• Describe potential interventions and communication strategies during a community Legionella outbreak.

About the presenters: Dr. Colin Q-T Lee and Karen Kivilahti

Dr. Colin Q-T Lee MD, MSc, CCFP(EM), FRCPC, is an Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. He provides medical consultation to the Infectious Disease, Immunization and Sexual Health programs.

Karen Kivilahti, HBPE, BASc, CIPH(C), is a Program Manager at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. She oversees the Safe Water Program, specializing in drinking water safety and Small Drinking Water Systems.

Past Sessions

Part 1 (May 9) described key components and strategies in a legionellosis investigation including the epidemiology of cases, clinical testing and environmental risk factors and assessment.

Part 2 (May 16) reviewed environmental sampling, interpretation of results and remediation measures to mitigate Legionella growth in water systems.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Accreditation

PHO Rounds are approved for continuing medical education from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. PHO Rounds are also approved by Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI). For more information, contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Stay up-to-date

Stay up-to-date on upcoming events and calls for abstracts by visiting our calendar. If you have submissions, or questions or comments about the items above, send them to capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

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