Infection prevention & control
Preventing waterborne infections in care homes
Outbreaks of waterborne infection are an ever-present danger, never more so than in vulnerable settings. In this article, Bristan senior product manager Chris Tranter talks about the importance of waterborne infection control within care homes
A key threat within UK healthcare environments is Legionnaire’s disease – an infection that can be potentially fatal in vulnerable or elderly populations. If users become exposed to contaminated water, they are at risk of developing this disease. Therefore, effective maintenance and servicing of bathroom products is vital in reducing waterborne infections. The pandemic has firmly put the
spotlight on the issue of infection control and the need for clearer policies, procedures and infrastructure to control the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, particularly in the health and care settings. The need for effective infection control processes and equipment in the healthcare sector has been long debated yet progress remains slow. While other areas may have advanced,
the issue of waterborne infection control continues to slip under the radar. The Covid-19 crisis has shown that following the same clear guidelines is the most effective way to deliver a safer, healthier environment for all.
The importance of infection control Government figures have shown a huge rise in Legionnaires’ disease in recent years – caused by waterborne bacterium Legionella. There has been a 64 per cent increase in cases in just two years. However, despite the threat of
waterborne diseases, the healthcare sector is yet to provide a definitive guide or approach to them and there has been very little research conducted into the rationale and effectiveness of the local policies in place. The key stakeholders within the sphere
of infection control for water delivery have very different ideas in terms of their strategies and preferences. After 40 years of supplying bathroom products to the healthcare industry, one way Bristan has approached this issue is through commissioning a white paper: ‘Your
Government figures have shown a huge rise in Legionnaires’ disease in recent years – caused by waterborne bacterium Legionella. There has been a 64 per cent increase in cases in just two years
August 2021 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
Views: Water Delivery Infection Control in Healthcare’, to build a true picture of the current state of infection control measure for water delivery. The survey was answered by over
200 people working in both the private and public sectors, and the views of these individuals were summarised and analysed in this white paper. While the finding may not conclusively
settle technical debates, they do provide a body of knowledge from which we can discover the most urgent needs of those involved with infection control for healthcare. With infection control currently the number one concern for health and care professionals following the Covid-19 pandemic, the time for debate and action must be now.
Best practice A key issue within the health and care sector right now is pinpointing how the ‘designated gatekeeper’ — the person
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