Before 2020, maintenance and engineering managers already had their plates full trying to ensure that their facilities remained safe and operational. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, few if any occupants were in buildings, and the challenges for managers expanded. During that period, one threat to human health and safety took hold — legionella. The bacteria grew in many buildings' water systems, leading to increasing reports of Legionnaire’s disease. Now the disease has struck another facility with fatal results.
Seven classrooms at a Pinellas County, Florida, elementary school were temporarily vacated recently, and state health officials were conducting an investigation following the death of a teacher who tested positive for legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. A teacher at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School died Nov. 24 after four days in intensive care, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia that causes fever, headache, muscle ache and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is generally spread from moisture particles from cooling towers, showers, faucets, spas, hot tubs and decorative fountains.
The teacher was admitted to HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital with high fever, headache, chills and sweats. As her condition worsened, she was intubated and given dialysis. She was placed in hospice care after her organs began to fail.
In an email sent to the Tampa Bay Times, district officials said students will return to their normal classroom once repairs to the air-conditioning system are complete and air quality is confirmed as safe. The district is waiting for test results of air samples from the building. An environmental company has been retained to clean the building. Department of Health officials visited the school and confirmed that the district is complying with health regulations.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
