Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Public awareness is key in preventing risk of Legionella outbreaks in water systems, according to Dr. Wael Elamin, Medical Director of Environmental Sciences at M42.
Legionella pneumophila is a bacterium that thrives in water systems and can cause a severe type of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease, and other respiratory tract infections.
Dr. Elamin's comments came during the Water Quality Forum on Legionella Awareness, Risks, and Mitigation on Tuesday.
The event was held under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and M42, in collaboration with the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi/Abu Dhabi Public Health Center and the Central Testing Lab.
"Legionella pneumophila has many different serotypes that have been linked to infections since it was first discovered in the 1970s, resulting in a massive outbreak and fatalities," Dr. Elamin told Aletihd on the sidelines of the event.
This bacteria grows in water systems maintained at 25-42 degrees Celsius, including taps, ventilation, and cooling systems.
Dr. Elamin highlighted that active surveillance is vital, especially in high-risk areas like hospitals, guided by UAE public health regulators such as the Abu Dubai Health Department and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.
He noted that M42 has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council to operate the Central Testing Laboratory, the designated facility for testing Legionella in Abu Dhabi's healthcare sector.
"Our goal is to enhance methods, improve the speed and reliability of detection, and ensure timely presentation of information to regulators to facilitate effective mitigation plans whenever we identify these organisms. We are also focused on improving data analysis and statistics," he said.
Regarding innovative strategies to mitigate Legionella risks, Dr. Elamin pointed out the importance of awareness.
"Our efforts begin with awareness. The sponsorship of this water quality forum by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Department marked our first step towards enhancing knowledge and developing plans that are better suited to our local environment. The challenges we face in the UAE, where we heavily rely on desalinated water and have distinct building and ventilation systems, require tailored solutions."
He also discussed the effectiveness of current testing methods for Legionella and potential improvements.
"The testing methods currently in use are globally standardised and primarily involve bacterial culture. We are beginning to introduce molecular methods such as PCR, and we are working on implementing viability PCR to accelerate testing. Also, we are leveraging our omics capabilities for whole genome sequencing to enhance our understanding of local strains," he said.
