HEALTHCARE & HOSPITAL FACILITIES


• Filter by Design - Showerheads are a trapping for sediment and nutrients found naturally in mains water supplies, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria


• Difficult to Clean - Current cleaning regimes can leave a layer of dead cells and biofilm in the hose length, becoming a food source for new bacteria


Current cleaning regimes are more often than not carried out using the traditional ‘hand and bucket’ method, submersing the showers in a biocide and descaler. In addition to the problems of deploying hazardous chemicals in a healthcare setting, W.E.T’s research project has provided evidence to suggest that these procedures are not as effective as we may think. Results showed hoses with significant counts of microbiology remaining and layers of dead cells and biofilm that go on to become a food source for new bacteria.


In search of a more effective approach to shower management, an innovative process for managing the task of descaling and disinfecting showers and flexi- hoses is now available and is being adopted by NHS Trusts and FM providers alike.


W.E.T recently completed a series of R&D trials in 2017 and has since invested in a new production facility that can manage the cleaning of tens of thousands of showers; more economically and effectively than any known process available today, proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria. Known as Hygiene 20 Shower Management, this is an innovative six-stage process available for FMs and Estates’ Managers to outsource the cleaning of their showers via a ‘collection, clean and return’ process. The showers are collected from sites, inspected, bar coded for audit purposes and sent through the six-stage Shower Management process from decontamination to final pasteurisation.


The Six-Stage Hygiene 20 Shower


Management system Stage 1: Decontamination: Targets and breaks thick surface biofilms


Stage 2: Descaling: Removes scale to expose more surface areas


Stage 3: Disinfectant: Specialist treatment to penetrate biofilms and target harmful pathogens


Stage 4: Shearing: Highly effective removal of microbiological fouling and other deposits


Stage 5: Drying: Final pasteurisation of all surfaces including hose internals


Stage 6: Bagging: Airtight sealing, to avoid environmental contamination


Professor Anthony C. Hilton, Professor of Applied Microbiology at Aston University, Birmingham, who worked with W.E.T on this project said: “I was delighted to engage this research project to improve water quality conditions in hot and cold water systems. This shower management service has achieved encouraging results since its inception, having significantly reduced


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Advice and Legislation for compliant shower management


• HTM 04-01 Part B - Disinfection of showerheads and angle-valve strainers has only a short-lived effect on microbial colonisation and growth.


• HSG 274 Part 2 – Dismantle, clean, descale and disinfect removable parts, heads, inserts and hoses every three months.


• WRAS – Some non-metallic materials are unsuitable for use with wholesome water, because they support extensive microbial growth.


• Department of Health – Flexible hoses may have an enhanced risk of harbouring Legionella bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms.


• BS6920 – It is a legal requirement that flexible hoses are assessed by a competent laboratory for their compliance with BS6920: Parts one to three.


• IHEEM - Pathogens from shower water and aerosolised shower mist are recognised sources of infection for immunocompromised patients.


microbiological fouling in showers, including pathogens harmful to human health. After several modifications to the process, this innovative system has been scientifically developed to achieve a 99.9% kill rate of bacteria and the harmful effective removal of organic matter that is so frequently present in flexible shower hoses.”


This new shower management service is set to save facility and estates’ teams both time and money, whilst achieving an impressive 99.9% kill rate of bacteria currently thriving in shower systems.


www.wet-services.com TOMORROW’S FM | 23


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