This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
WATER SYSTEM HYGIENE AND SAFETY


Helping to reduce infection So, to conclude, cross- contamination of dangerous bacteria is very prevalent in hospitals, and a major potential source of bacteria growth are taps. New, more modern taps, such as Markwik 21+, have been designed to give bacteria less opportunity to grow, and, if hospitals follow a rigorous programme of maintenance, can be stripped down and decontaminated relatively easily. Thermostatic taps provide a safe, consistent temperature, which makes handwashing a far easier and a more pleasant experience which, in turn, should lead to more effective hand cleaning and less cross-contamination within hospitals.


Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham has confirmed that when a Markwik 21+ tap is deliberately infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa for experimental purposes, stripped down, and placed in a washer- disinfector, the bacteria are all but eliminated. We believe that thermostatic taps are suitable for all areas of a hospital when the right products are specified and operated under a strict maintenance and cleaning regime. They may not be the perfect solution, but they provide a sensible tool for less infection in hospitals.


Antimicrobial materials are used in the Markwik 21+ to minimise the spread of bacteria.


Thermostatic taps do have to be checked, but the new guidelines have reduced the time this takes. Besides, any tap within a healthcare premises – thermostatic or non-thermostatic – should still be checked, as they are all potential havens for bacteria. We recognise how important an area infection control is, and we are continuously looking into ways in which we can help in the fight against infection. Recent research from Queen


References 1 NICE. Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control in primary and community care. Clinical guideline [CG139]. March 2012. Last updated: February 2017. [www.tinyurl.com/y9tasy6o].


2 ‘Sing happy birthday twice while washing your hands’, say pharmacists. The Guardian, 29 September 2017. [www.tinyurl.com/ybulujq6].


3 HTM 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises. Department of Health. Last updated: 10 April, 2017. [www.tinyurl.com/yc95u6bm].


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE


What is your shower management strategy?


Managing showers can be problematic for facility managers and estates teams and requires effective measures to mitigate risks such as Legionnaires’ Disease. To assist, W.E.T (Water Environmental Treatment) have developed and launched the innovative - Hygiene 20™ Shower Management system.


Current cleaning regimes in hospitals are often 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


www.wet-services.com October 2018 Health Estate Journal 109


task of descaling and disinfecting showers and flexi-hoses is now available and is being adopted by NHS Trusts. Following the successful completion


of R&D trials, W.E.T has invested in a new production facility to manage the cleaning of over 100,000 showers; faster and more effectively than any known process available today.


hej


Tony Rheinberg


Tony Rheinberg has been in the bathroom industry for over 25 years, and is currently senior sector marketing manager for Armitage Shanks. In the past few years he has specialised in ‘Healthcare’ marketing, and has been part of the team developing the Contour 21+ and Markwik 21+ hospital ranges.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116