Matt Freije is president of HC Information Resources Inc., Fallbrook, CA (www.hcinfo.com). He is the author of the book Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk and three new Legionella management plans for hospitals, hotels and nursing homes. He is also the editor of Legionella Enews, an international newsletter that covers outbreaks and new technology. Freije conducts Legionella building assessments, serves as an expert in litigation related to Legionnaires' disease, recommends domestic water disinfection strategies and teaches seminars. He can be reached at (760) 451-1050, or mf@hcinfo.com.
The goal is to design systems that minimize conditions conducive to these and other bacteria, include preventive measures in operating and maintenance specifications, and document preventive recommendations rejected by the owner.
Piping with low or infrequent flows can be a breeding ground for Legionella bacteria, but the following measures will help to prevent these "dead legs"