ASTM D5952-08(2015)
Standard Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)

Standard No.

ASTM D5952-08(2015)

Release Date

2008

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM D5952-08(2015)

Scope

5.1 Water systems may be inspected (see Section 7) and tested (see Section 8) for legionella under three circumstances (1) in the absence of reported legionellosis (see 5.2); (2) when a single legionellosis case has been reported (see 5.3); and (3) when two or more legionellosis cases are reported in a limited time period and geographic region (see 5.4). Following are factors building owners and operators need to understand when considering testing water systems for legionella in the absence of illness (see 5.2) and for single legionellosis cases (see 5.3). Refer also to the CDC 2003 Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care Associated Pneumonia, and the CDC 2000 Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, and the WHO Legionella and the Prevention of Legionellosis. Detection of legionella in a water system is not sufficient to identify the system as a health hazard. However, failure to detect legionella does not indicate, conclusively, that the bacterium is not present (see 6.2.4) or that the water system may not pose a potential health hazard. Methods to detect legionella vary in sensitivity and specificity (see 6.2), and laboratories vary in their skill and experience in the isolation and identification of legionella. Isolation of apparently identical legionellae from clinical and environmental samples (see 6.2.1, 6.6.2.4, and Section 8) may suggest that a water system was the source of the legionella responsible for a patient's infection (see 5.3.2). However, cases of Legionnaires' disease due to different legionella serogroups or species need not necessarily have different sources of exposure because a system may be contaminated by more than one legionella. Timely inspection, testing, and treatment of possible legionella sources may reduce legal liabilities for facility owners and operators. Refer also to the APHA Public Health Law Manual.

5.2 Environmental Testing for Legionella in the Absence of Illness: 

5.2.1 Concerned employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, and others seek to prevent real and potential health hazards, if possible. Water system operators may identify undesirable situations by monitoring routinely for legionella and may be able to implement control measures before the bacterium reaches an amount sufficient to cause human illness (see 6.2.4.2). The CDC 2000 Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients advises that because transplant recipients are at much higher risk for disease and death from legionellosis compared with other hospitalized persons, periodic culturing for legionella in water samples from a center's potable water supply could be regarded as part of an overall strategy for the prevention of Legionnaires' disease in transplant centers and oth......

ASTM D5952-08(2015) Referenced Document

• ASTM C1080 Standard Specification for Asbestos-Cement Products Other Than Fill For Cooling Towers
• ASTM D1067 Standard Test Methods for Acidity or Alkalinity of Water
• ASTM D1129 Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• ASTM D1293 Standard Test Methods for pH of Water
• ASTM D1356 Standard Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres*， 2024-04-20 Update
• ASTM D2331 Standard Practices for Preparation and Preliminary Testing of Water-Formed Deposits
• ASTM D3370 Standard Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
• ASTM D3856 Standard Guide for Good Laboratory Practices in Laboratories Engaged in Sampling and Analysis of Water
• ASTM D4840 Standard Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody Procedures
• ASTM D512 Standard Test Methods for Chloride Ion In Water
• ASTM D596 Standard Guide for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
• ASTM D887 Standard Practices for Sampling Water-Formed Deposits
• ASTM E645 Standard Test Method for Efficacy of Microbicides Used in Cooling Systems
• ASTM F444 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Scald-Preventing Devices and Systems in Bathing Areas
• ASTM F445 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Thermal-Shock-Preventing Devices and Systems in Showering Areas

ASTM D5952-08(2015) history

• 2008 ASTM D5952-08(2015) Standard Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)
• 2008 ASTM D5952-08 Standard Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires'' Disease or Pontiac Fever)
• 2002 ASTM D5952-02 Standard Guide for Inspecting Water Systems for Legionellae and Investigating Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)
• 1996 ASTM D5952-96(2002) Standard Guide for Inspecting Water Systems for Legionellae and Investigating Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)
• 1996 ASTM D5952-96e1 Standard Guide for Inspecting Water Systems for Legionellae and Investigating Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)