Page 123 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
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Public health measures for managing
pollution with legionella in Slovenian
swimming pools
Tatjana Pokrajac
Universty of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Problem presentation. Swimming pools are popular for recreational
sports, but are exposed to microbiological contamination. The most
frequent microbiological contamination are fecal bacteria. Especially are
important pollution with Legionella. Legionella infection is lethal if the
infected patients are not treated on time, and its outbreaks are a great
public health problem. Its incidence is rising. Purpose. The purpose of the
article is to present public health measures for the control of Legionella
in Slovenian swimming pools. Methods. This article is a review of the
literature on public health measures to control the pollution of Legionella
in swimming pools. I have chosen literature from books, domestic, world
famous public health journals, and electronically published articles (the
website of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the World
Health Organization (WHO), Medline, Pubmed, etc.). Results. The risk
definitions and measures for the prevention of legionellosis preventive
measures that reduce the possibility of Legionella growth, measures to
detect the presence of Legionella in swimming pools and measures if
the disease occurs are shown. Conclusions. Prevention and treatment
of legionellosis is an interdisciplinary work involving the planned and
regular implementation of sanitary-technical and hygienic procedures,
microbiological control, and urgent action in the determination of
legionella or legionellosis.
Key words: Legionella, swimming pools, risk assessment, preventive
measures
Introduction
Legionella are gram negative bacteria belonging to the family Legionellaceae.
They are aerobic bacteria, whose main living environment is natural water. Le-
gionella are extremely resistant to environmental factors. They are able to grow
pollution with legionella in Slovenian
swimming pools
Tatjana Pokrajac
Universty of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Problem presentation. Swimming pools are popular for recreational
sports, but are exposed to microbiological contamination. The most
frequent microbiological contamination are fecal bacteria. Especially are
important pollution with Legionella. Legionella infection is lethal if the
infected patients are not treated on time, and its outbreaks are a great
public health problem. Its incidence is rising. Purpose. The purpose of the
article is to present public health measures for the control of Legionella
in Slovenian swimming pools. Methods. This article is a review of the
literature on public health measures to control the pollution of Legionella
in swimming pools. I have chosen literature from books, domestic, world
famous public health journals, and electronically published articles (the
website of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the World
Health Organization (WHO), Medline, Pubmed, etc.). Results. The risk
definitions and measures for the prevention of legionellosis preventive
measures that reduce the possibility of Legionella growth, measures to
detect the presence of Legionella in swimming pools and measures if
the disease occurs are shown. Conclusions. Prevention and treatment
of legionellosis is an interdisciplinary work involving the planned and
regular implementation of sanitary-technical and hygienic procedures,
microbiological control, and urgent action in the determination of
legionella or legionellosis.
Key words: Legionella, swimming pools, risk assessment, preventive
measures
Introduction
Legionella are gram negative bacteria belonging to the family Legionellaceae.
They are aerobic bacteria, whose main living environment is natural water. Le-
gionella are extremely resistant to environmental factors. They are able to grow
