The Water Management Society (WMSoc) are holding their Designing Out Healthcare Acquired Infections Conference in London and ALS Environmental are proud to be exhibiting. This event is on the 15th November at the SCI in Belgrave Square.
This one-day conference is aimed at anyone involved in designing, installing, maintaining or looking after healthcare water systems. This event will also address the needs of good design in these establishments in helping to reduce the current numbers of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs). Currently thousands of people die in the UK each year from HAIs and these may have been avoided by having a better understanding from the new guidance standards that are now available.
Legionella, Pseudomonas and Mycobacteria are just a few of the bacteria involved in the HAIs concerned in the 'designing out' process. The control of these microorganisms in healthcare facilities' water systems is controlled by a range of Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) and Choice Framework for Policy and Procedures (CFFP) documents. The focus for these is ensuring that the bacteria levels in healthcare facilities is kept under control and the risk to patients, especially the immnocompromised, can be minimised.
Legionella pneumophila in water can cause Legionnaire's disease if present at temperatures of 20 - 45ºC. This allows the bacteria to grow and be inhaled, resulting in flu-like symptoms in the patient.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa are pathogens that pose a particular risk to patients who are compromised. There has been an association between the presence of aeruginosa in water from taps and other outlets and infection/colonisation in patients in augmented care units.
Mycobacteria can be present in water and are opportunistic human pathogens that can cause persistent infections. Mycobacteria can be separated into two groups, the tuberculous or 'typical' species which have human or animal reservoirs and are not transmitted by water and the non-tuberculosis or 'atypical' species which are natural inhabitants of environmental waters. Mycobacterium tuberculosis are implicated in Meningitis by infection of the meninges.
ALS Environmental are proud to offer
MALDI-ToF identification for these micro-organisms. The ability to reduce confirmation times is a result of
MALDI-ToF being able to be performed on colonies from selective agar, removing the need for subculturing and incubation.
