Legionella Investigation and Testing in Iowa

Ryan Jepson, M ASCP
Ryan Jepson is the Environmental Microbiology Manager at the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa. Ryan graduated with a degree in Microbiology from the University of Iowa in 2006 and started as a laboratory scientist in the Bacteriology section in 2008 During his time in Bacteriology, Ryan worked and oversaw several CDC programs such as PulseNet, Tuberculosis Cooperative Agreement, Laboratory Response Network, and the Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network. In Ryan’s current role he is responsible for overseeing water and food testing for the Safe Drinking Water Act, FDA LFFM and Food Emergency Response Network, National Wastewater Surveillance System, and Environmental Legionella Testing.  




Andy Weigel
Andy Weigel has over 24 years of experience working in state and county public health to prevent a variety of infectious diseases. His current position is the Influenza Epidemiologist for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. 

In that position, he collects and summarizes data for Iowa’s weekly respiratory virus surveillance reports, reviews legionellosis reports for possible outbreaks or common sources and provides consultation on a variety of infectious disease topics. Recent additions to Andy’s responsibilities include wastewater surveillance and syndromic surveillance data analysis. 



Brief Description
An overview of Legionella investigation and laboratory testing in Iowa.  Topics to include Legionella trends, travel and healthcare associated infections, and laboratory methods used to detect Legionella in clinical and environmental samples.  The presentation will also include a case study on Legionella assessment, sample collection, and implementing control measures.

Objectives

  1. Understand the process of Legionellosis investigation in Iowa and what steps providers can take to help the process.
  2. Identify operation, maintenance, and control limits that limit or prevent Legionella amplification in buildings.
  3. List three laboratory methods of Legionella identification and their limitations.