Legionella Bacteria – A Growing Threat

The legionella lurking in premise plumbing systems pose serious health threats to hospital staff and patients alike. Legionnaires’ Disease has resulted in significant settlements. Jury awards have ranged from $255,000 to $5.2 million.

Statistics tell the story:

• One in 10 people who contract Legionnaires’ Disease will die. And most survivors deal with long-term effects the rest of their lives.
• Nearly 7,500 reported cases in 2017, according to the CDC, and many go unreported.
• Legionella is the No. 1 cause of waterborne diseases outbreaks in the United States.
• Reported settlements and jury awards range from $255,000 to $5.2 million.
• Waterborne illnesses including legionella have led to more than 40,000 hospitalizations on an annual basis for an annual cost of $970 million, including $430 million in Medicare and Medicaid expenses.
• Adding employee work time and productivity costs to legionella’s direct healthcare costs brings the estimated total cost to well over $1 billion per year.