Hydrosense

A Question You Sometimes Hear is ‘Why Test for Legionella at All?’ The argument seems to be: “We are using controls on the water system and we periodically check our controls, so why would we need to test?” But are you *really* guaranteed to be in control? In one of the most wide-ranging studies on Legionella outbreaks ever undertaken https://bit.ly/4gWzZ0c, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) looked at all their field investigations over a 15 year period. They determined that the root causes of outbreaks were as follows: Process Failures – 65% Human errors – 52% Equipment Failures – 35% Unmanaged External Changes – 35% More than one of the above – 48% It’s clear we cannot eradicate all human errors, process failures, equipment failures or unmanaged external changes. These things are just a fact of life. We can minimise them but not eradicate them. So how can we spot these unexpected events? Testing. Testing the water systems we need to protect, and are trying to control, will allow us to spot Legionella risk caused by ANY of these issues. The case seems clear. To manage Legionella risk and prevent outbreaks, don’t risk it, test it. Discover our solutions for effective rapid Legionella pneumophila testing: https://bit.ly/4eFNb8o #Legionella #WaterSafety #PublicHealth

🌍 Business Travel in 2024: Are We Doing Enough to Ensure Safety? 🌍 As global travel increases, so do the concerns about safety and security for business travellers. With 37% of business travellers reporting anxiety about safety and security, the pressure is on companies to prioritise the well-being of their employees on the road. Worryingly, 46% of those who travel for work don’t have a corporate travel safety plan in place. https://hubs.li/Q02TBp_80 While these stats from Expensify don't specifically highlight Legionella, they raise an important point: anxiety levels are already present. Concerns over water quality and health risks like Legionella will only add to the stress, especially during extended stays in hotels or alternative accommodations. 🔑 Solution? Remove the extra worry by packing a Hydrosense PRO testing kit in your travel bag. This portable, easy-to-use tool can help detect Legionella bacteria in water systems—giving peace of mind that the water you’re exposed to is safe. With 54% of business travellers already dealing with flight delays and cancellations, adding unnecessary health risks should be the last thing on anyone’s mind. Make safety a priority on all fronts. Empower your team to stay protected wherever they travel, by adding Hydrosense PRO to their travel toolkit. #BusinessTravel #TravelSafety #LegionellaRisk #HydrosensePRO #CorporateTravel #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkplaceSafety

🌟 Hospitality Managers: How Prepared Are You for Legionella? 🌟 🚿 In the hospitality industry, the health and safety of your guests and staff are paramount. Did you know that more than 97% of Legionnaires' disease cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila? This bacteria can thrive in water systems commonly found in hotels and resorts. 🛡️ Hydrosense offers a swift and accurate testing solution for Legionella pneumophila with results available in just 25 minutes! 🔍 Here’s a quick guide to managing your Legionella risk effectively: 1️⃣ Identify potential risk areas including taps, air conditioning units, and swimming pools. 2️⃣ Plan a regular testing and maintenance schedule to ensure all water outlets are safe. 3️⃣ Add our reliable Hydrosense PRO kits to your testing regime to ensure "in the moment" detection. 4️⃣ Communicate regularly with your team about recognising and mitigating Legionella risks. 📉 Remember, the mortality rate for community-acquired Legionnaires' disease can be as high as 10%. ✅ Don’t compromise on safety. Reach out to Hydrosense today to safeguard your venue and ensure your guests stay safe and healthy! 🔗 Contact us to learn more about rapid Legionella testing and management solutions tailored for the hospitality industry. https://hubs.li/Q02TdfCT0 #HospitalityIndustry #LegionellaPrevention #GuestSafety #Hydrosense

🌍 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: A Call to Action 🌍 Today, we recognise the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, a vital initiative promoting global awareness and action for disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can have devastating effects on lives and livelihoods. As we focus on reducing disaster risks, it's crucial to address the prevention of Legionella proliferation and Legionnaires' disease outbreaks. These outbreaks can be catastrophic, impacting both health, lives and businesses. Effective regulation, proper maintenance of infrastructure, and vigilant water system management are key to preventing such man-made disasters. It an avoidable risk if we work together to create a safer, more resilient world. https://hubs.li/Q02Rcw4t0 #DisasterRiskReduction #LegionellaPrevention #SustainableGrowth #GlobalHealth #InfrastructureSafety

Viable But Non-Culturable Legionella – is it a risk? It is well known that culture-based Legionella test methods will be unable to detect VBNC Legionella. But should this concern us? Like all the other bacteria that can enter a VBNC state (only 85 species of bacteria, interestingly 67 of which are pathogenic), VBNC Legionella enters the state as a survival mechanism due to stress. In this state the bacteria has a very low or dormant metabolism and can survive for prolonged periods. Legionella entering the VBNC state can be caused, among other factors, by any of the typical controls we use to minimise Legionella risks; Biocides UV treatments Heat shock/Heat treatments As a result, in the normal course of managing a water system a water treater will be creating potentially large volumes of VBNC Legionella, which a lab culture will subsequently ignore. So there are undoubtedly a lot of them around and those only using culture-based Legionella tests may be dangerously unaware. So far, so bad, but are they infective? Well research has already been done in this area and has shown that VBNC legionella are capable of directly infecting human lung cells and replicating in them. So yes, VBNC can infect humans. On the basis of the precautionary principle, knowing this we should do two things: 1️⃣ Keep systems scrupulously clean, using biodispersants, particularly in high-risk settings 2️⃣ When testing post-remediation or post periodic cleaning we should use a test method like PCR or Hydrosense that can detect VBNC Legionella. https://hubs.li/Q02SK6KD0 Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q02SK9Js0 https://hubs.li/Q02SKmKK0

Legionella Risk for Business Travellers – Is Your Company Prepared? As business travel continues to evolve post-pandemic, extended stays and alternative accommodations are becoming increasingly popular. According to a recent report by https://hubs.li/Q02Rc1Dc0 https://hubs.li/Q02Rc6tH0, business travellers stayed 4.76% longer on average in 2023 compared to 2019. For travellers staying in accommodations with uncertain water system quality, this risk becomes more significant, especially in extended-stay properties where bacteria could proliferate. Key Stats: 1️⃣ 71.6% of business travellers still prefer hotels, but more are opting for apartments (13% longer stays in 2023 vs. 2019). 2️⃣ Countries such as France (+11.1%), Germany (+10.5%), and the U.S. (+9%) have seen a noticeable increase in stay durations. 3️⃣ Extended stays in apartments and motels are on the rise, and while these options may offer more comfort and privacy, they often lack the rigorous water system checks that hotels may provide. The Legionella Risk: Legionella bacteria can develop in water systems that are not properly maintained or regularly flushed. Business travellers often stay in hotels, apartments, or motels where water systems might not be regularly used between guests, increasing the risk of exposure to this harmful bacteria. A Simple Solution: Hydrosense PRO Business travellers should protect their health. That’s where Hydrosense PRO comes in - a portable, easy-to-use water testing kit for Legionella pneumophila, small enough to fit into any travel bag. This quick test allows professionals to check the water quality in their accommodations, ensuring that they are not exposed to dangerous bacteria while travelling. Leave a small amount of space in your suitcase for Hydrosense - it could make all the difference. If you're an organisation with employees traveling frequently, protecting them should be a priority. Providing them with Hydrosense testing solutions is a small but essential step in ensuring their safety. https://hubs.li/Q02Rc57K0 #BusinessTravel #LegionellaRisk #TravelSafety #HydrosensePRO #WorkplaceSafety #ExtendedStays #CorporateTravel

🚗 Doing the Bare Minimum Isn’t Always Enough 🚗 When it comes to safety, many of us know that going beyond the basics can make all the difference. Think about your car: passing the MOT is a legal requirement and keeps it roadworthy, but regular servicing is not but many of us still ensure we carry these out. Servicing a car goes beyond the bare minimum, ensuring more safety and reliability, reducing the risk of unexpected issues. 🚘 At Hydrosense, we believe the same applies to Legionella testing. Our Hydrosense ONE test is an excellent first line of defence, detecting serogroup 1, the most common and dangerous strain of Legionella bacteria. Detecting this bacteria may be the minimum required in your territory but does it cover the full risk? All the serogroups of Legionella pneumophila can pose a risk. That’s where Hydrosense PRO comes in. It offers testing for all serogroups (1-15), giving you even greater peace of mind by covering the full spectrum of potential threats. 🧪💧 If you invest in your car’s safety, why not do the same with the water you use every day? Upgrade to Hydrosense PRO—think of it as the full-service plan for your water systems. When it comes to protecting your water systems and the people in your care, why settle for anything less than complete coverage? 🚿💡 https://bit.ly/3TXU38I #SafetyFirst #LegionellaTesting #HydrosenseONE #HydrosensePRO #BeyondTheMinimum #WaterSafety #HealthAndSafety

🚨 Are you doing enough to manage Legionella risk in your healthcare facility? 🚨 👉 Legionnaires' disease is a serious health threat, especially in environments with extensive water systems like hospitals, care homes, and other public buildings. With more than 97% of cases caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, it's crucial to stay proactive. 🛡️ At Hydrosense, we offer a rapid and reliable solution to test for Legionella pneumophila directly at your site—getting results in just 25 minutes! 🔍 Here’s how you can manage the risk: 1️⃣ Identify areas prone to Legionella growth like showers, taps, and cooling towers. 2️⃣ Plan a regular testing and maintenance schedule. 3️⃣ Test using the Hydrosense PRO kits to keep an eye on water systems. 4️⃣ Communicate and educate your staff on the risks and prevention strategies. 💡 Did you know that the death rate for healthcare-acquired Legionnaires' disease can be as high as 25%? Don’t wait for an outbreak to occur. Contact us at Hydrosense to get started on a proactive approach to Legionella management. Protect your environment and those within it today! 🔗 Reach out now! https://hubs.li/Q02Rb_1r0 #LegionellaPrevention #FacilityManagement #HealthcareSafety #Hydrosense

🔬Lab Culture – Gold Standard, Silver Bullet or Golden Hammer? 🔨 Lab Culture testing for Legionella is often described as the ‘Gold Standard’ of testing. However, with Government organisations such as the UK’s HSE describing Legionella Lab Culture testing’s deficiencies as: 🐌 Slow 📉 Poor recovery rate 🏋️ Can be out-competed ☠️ Doesn’t detect VBNC Legionella It is clear it is not even a ‘Silver Bullet’ to the problem of monitoring water systems for Legionella risk, with numerous opportunities for it to not identify risk. This is why many water treatment professionals do not trust their own and their customer’s reputations, to this single technology, preferring a multi technology approach to look at their water systems in multiple dimensions. In many cases performing regulatory tests with Lab Culture but including additional risk analysis with a technology such as PCR or Hydrosense which can also detect dangerous VBNC Legionella. A Golden Hammer (aka Maslow’s hammer) is the concept that armed with only one tool such as a hammer, every problem starts to look like a nail. It seems that Lab Culture, a flawed technology but still the predominant tool for managing Legionella risk, is more ‘Golden Hammer’ than ‘Gold Standard’. It’s time to evaluate a strategy of mixed technologies to keep your customers, their customers and the general public safe. https://hubs.li/Q02Rt9JC0

🚰 Aging Water Infrastructure: A Hidden Challenge with Significant Implications 🚰 Did you know that much of the U.S. water infrastructure dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries? With pipes averaging about 45 years old—and some exceeding 75 years. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the U.S. needs to invest about $1 trillion over the next 25 years to maintain and expand the water infrastructure. With approximately 240,000 water main breaks occurring annually, it's a clear sign water systems are showing their age. One critical concern with aging water systems is the potential growth of Legionella bacteria, which thrives in old, corroded pipes. Stagnant water, biofilm formation, and sediment accumulation create perfect breeding grounds for this harmful pathogen. Maintaining and upgrading water systems isn't just about preventing leaks and breaks—it's about safeguarding public health from harmful bacteria like Legionella. Whilst updating the water system will probably take many many years, Legionella doesn't wait for anyone. Living safely with dated pipework means testing the water and any biofilm formation for Legionella. Most outbreaks are caused by Legionella pneumophila - if only there was a rapid test to find in on site and within 25 minutes...ahem! https://hubs.li/Q02HLWFl0. 💧 #WaterInfrastructure #PublicHealth #Legionella #Sustainability #InfrastructureInvestment #WaterQuality