October 2019: Direct From CDC/ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Services
Direct From CDC/ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Services Column
October 2019 Journal of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ (Volume 82, Number 3)
Editor's Note: NEHA strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships in the profession. In pursuit of these goals, we feature a column on environmental health services from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in every issue of the Journal.
In these columns, authors from CDC's Water, Food, and ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Services Branch, as well as guest authors, will share insights and information about environmental health programs, trends, issues, and resources. The conclusions of these columns are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of CDC.
Preventing Legionnaires' Disease Through a New Learning Opportunity: A Training on Legionella Water Management Programs
LCDR Candis M. Hunter, MSPH, PhD, REHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
LCDR Shaun McMullen, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chris Edens, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Liljana Johnson Baddour, MPH, National Network of Public Health Institutes
Jennifer McKeever, MPH, MSW, National Network of Public Health Institutes
Kelly A. Reynolds, PhD, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Western Region Training Center at the University of Arizona
Douglas L. Taren, PhD, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Western Region Training Center at the University of Arizona
Description
There is a need for water management program training. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of reported Legionnaires' disease (LD) cases increased by more than 250% over the past decade, with at least 8,400 cases reported in 2018. A review of CDC field investigations indicates that 85% of LD outbreaks were caused by problems that could have been prevented with more effective water management. Water management programs (WMPs) can help prevent cases of LD by identifying and addressing conditions that might lead to the growth and spread of Legionella bacteria within premise plumbing systems.
In December 2018, CDC and partners launched Preventing Legionnaires' Disease: A Training on Legionella Water Management Programs (PreventLD Training). The online training was designed for public health professionals, building managers, maintenance and engineering staff, safety officers, equipment and water treatment suppliers, infection control specialists, and other professionals involved in WMP design and implementation. This month's column provides a highlight of the PreventLD Training.