Development of a cooling tower predictive aerosol dispersion model to prevent Legionella infection

Cooling towers (CTs) are widely used devices in hospitals, industries, and other settings to dissipate heat from water via evaporation. The use of large amounts of water, stagnant conditions and poor maintenance programs promote the proliferation of bacteria such as Legionella . Since the 1980s, Legionella -containing aerosols produced by CTs have been linked to a number of outbreaks. To date, no studies have been conducted to assess the risk associated with Legionella dispersion through the CTs circuit, much less the preventive models that trace the map of its spread. The aim of the study is to develop a predictive model of bioaerosol dispersion linked to PM10, to develop a map of Legionella risk in a radius of 5-10 km from the hospital’s CT. This model represents a novel approach to the Legionella risk in CTs. Furthermore, the model could already be used in the design and installation phases, in addition to managing the CTs maintenance required to avoid outbreaks.