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 will provide a practical overview in conducting a public health investigation of legionellosis, including assessment of the epidemiology, potential environmental sources, appropriate clinical and environmental testing, and environmental control and remediation.
Part 1 (May 9) will describe key components and strategies in a legionellosis investigation including the epidemiology of cases, clinical testing and environmental risk factors and assessment.
Intended audience: PHU staff in case and outbreak management, environmental health, Medical Officers of Health and Associate Medical Officers of Health, Public Health Physicians, and laboratory staff.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe an approach to Legionella case exposure investigation.
- Describe the ecology of Legionella in human-made water systems.
- Outline an environmental risk assessment in a Legionella investigation.
Presenter(s): Dr. Austin Zygmunt and Kelly Briscoe
Dr. Austin Zygmunt, MSc, MD, CCFP, FRCPC, is a Public Health Physician in Health Protection at Public Health Ontario. He completed his Royal College fellowship in Public Health & Preventive Medicine at the University of Ottawa in 2021. His portfolios include environmentally acquired infections (e.g. legionellosis, blastomycosis), emerging infectious diseases threats (e.g. mpox, viral hemorrhagic fevers), sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections, and infection prevention and control (IPAC) lapses. His public health interests include communicable diseases, health equity, and LGBTQ+ health.
Kelly Briscoe, BA, BASc, MSc, CPHI(C), is a Senior Program Specialist on the Environmental and Occupational Health Team at Public Health Ontario. She has a Master of Science degree in Food Safety and Quality Assurance, a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Safety and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Health Sciences. She is a certified Public Health Inspector (PHI) with over 15 years of experience in the environmental health field.
Upcoming Sessions
Part 2 (May 16) will review environmental sampling, interpretation of results and remediation measures to mitigate Legionella growth in water systems.
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.
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
Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.
PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).
For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.
Accessibility
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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