LEGIONELLAE WITHIN WATER DISTRIBUTION-SYS TEMS - RISK ASSESSMENT IN FRANCE - PRELIMINARY DATA

Legionellae are infectious agents that might colonize cooling towers, air conditioning systems and individuals or shared hot water supplies. A review emphasizes the lack of data, especially in France, with rega rd to risk evaluation related to the development of Legionellae in ind ividuals hot water supply. A study aiming to estimate prevalence of Le gionellae in individuals water production and distribution systems is planed. It will be conducted by the Service des Etudes Medicales, EDF- GDF. This study might contribute to understand the role played by diff erent types of hot water tanks and individuals water distribution syst ems in the course of this colonization. We first tested the method (19 93). Following a review of published data, we described here our metho dology and our main results and conclusions.