Faster identification of waterborne threat

The need to quickly identify and take remedial action against bacterial contamination within a hospital environment is essential for patient safety. Guidelines for the monitoring of Pseudomonas aeruginosa within hospital water systems are laid down in the HTM 04-01 Addendum, but many hospitals test more regularly as part of a water safety plan. Here, Andrew Headland, senior business manager for IDEXX Water, explains how a new testing method is allowing facility managers to detect Pseudomonas in hospital water more quickly, and deal with consequent contamination more effectively, ultimately helping to save lives.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients, and it is reported that bacteria are responsible for 95% of all HAIs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which is commonly found within hospital water systems, particularly affects those with compromised immune systems, and is responsible for about 6% of all HAIs,1 with up to half of all these patients contracting the infection from taps and shower outlets within the hospital. P. aeruginosa is fairly resistant to routine chlorine and chloramine treatments and, if not eradicated, can form a biofilm that accelerates multiplication and increases the risk of infecting patients. 

Burns patients, and especially those receiving shower cart hydrotherapy as a routine part of their wound management, are at risk of infection,2 and the dangers of P. aeruginosa infection within ventilator environments was highlighted when a fatal outbreak in a critical care neonatal unit in Belfast was traced back to sink taps.3 A rising incidence of P. aeruginosa that has developed resistance to multiple antibiotics4 has further exacerbated the problem.