Rapid microbiology – raising awareness

A ‘high-level overview’ of some of the emerging rapid microbiology technologies designed to help healthcare engineering and infection control teams working in hospitals and other healthcare facilities more rapidly identify potentially hazardous levels of waterborne microorganisms in their water systems, enabling them to take prompt remedial action, and a look at the some of the ‘pros and cons’ of such testing techniques, was given by Nalco technical director, Howard Barnes, the vice-chair of the Legionella Control Association (LCA), at a recent LCA open day. HEJ editor, Jonathan Bailie, reports.

Addressing delegates at the 2015 LCA Open Day on 9 October last year at the Drayton Manor Hotel in Tamworth, Howard Barnes, who is technical director at water treatment and process improvement specialist, Nalco (an Ecolab company), explained that, as a microbiologist and former laboratory manager, water hygiene and safety was ‘very close to his heart’. Before getting to the heart of his presentation, and to put what he was about to say in context, he told delegates: “One of the earlier speakers, the Health and Safety Executive’s John Newbold, alluded to ‘a regulatory approach, underpinned by both evidence and goods science’. Really that could be the foundation of my presentation today.” 

Howard Barnes said his aim would be to cover a number of different aspects of rapid microbiology, under the theme of ‘What’s in it for me?’ – particularly from the standpoint of infection control specialists and healthcare engineering personnel who might be considering using some of the technologies to help them maintain safe water systems in their healthcare facilities. He would also cover some of the ‘technical issues’ behind some of the different techniques currently ‘on the radar’.