Washrooms


Techniques for reducing theriskofbacterialbuildup


Tony Rheinberg, Armitage Shanks, discusses how new technology can help to make care home bathrooms fit for purpose and how these care home spaces can help reduce the risk posed to residents by bacteria


Care homes present their own unique challenges when it comes to safely and effectively managing water. Maintaining safety is of the utmost importance, especially in a hospital where patients may be battling serious health problems. While care home bathrooms present an entirely different challenge to their hospital equivalents, there is much that can be learnt from how a healthcare building is designed and used. Healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) affect 300,000 people per year and special products have been designed to help avoid the spread of the harmful bacterial that cause them. HAIs are often contracted by hospital patients because their weakened immune systems are more susceptible to acquiring an infection. The risk of these infections can be particularly prevalent in water as bacteria are able to thrive within liquids. This is truer still in areas where water can become stagnant or where it is able to


An air admittance valve prevents pressure build-up from forcing trap water into the basin


pool. In such situations, the spread of Legionellaand Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be especially virulent.


Within the care home environment, the risks are similar to those seen in hospitals. As in healthcare establishments, elderly care home residents who may have health issues also have weaker immune systems that may be prone to infection. Likewise, a group of residents living in close proximity increases these risks and places the need to reduce the possibility of infection spreading via bathrooms as a priority on a care home agenda. Furthermore, there is also a need for the elderly to have a safe space in which to wash, so thermostatic taps and showers are of critical importance. An additional need is for water to be kept continually moving to avoid the build up of bacteria. Therefore a regime of


ensuring that taps and showers are used regularly must be implemented to avoid the risk of Legionella growth.


Avoidance measures It is essential that all elements of the bathroom can be easily and effectively cleaned. A simple tweak that can have a massive impact on how clean a bathroom actually is, is the use of rimless toilet pans. Rimless pans are easier to keep clean as the bowl is totally open without the conventional rim around the pan. This makes it easy to identify areas that are visibly soiled and in need of a deeper clean. Basin design also impacts on how easy a washroom is to clean. Look for basins that feature smooth edges that are free of nooks and crannies, where dirt can build up and bacteria can thrive. Back outlet basins are especially useful


Infection control professionals know that hygiene depends on rigour


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Healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) affect 300,000 people per year and special products have been designed to help avoid the spread of the harmful bacterial that causethem


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • January 2018


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