Title : Are you doing enough to protect high risk patients from waterborne infections?

Abstract:

The incidence and range of  infections associated with water and wastewater related to healthcare premises is increasing, with significant increased costs, length of patient stays and antibiotic use  to healthcare organisations and the families affected. Whilst the development of water safety plans and multidisciplinary water safety groups has improved the management of water systems and associated equipment. Wastewater systems and their potential to cause cross contamination and infection has by in large been overlooked especially by those designing and engineering new build healthcare premises.  

This presentation will highlight the increasing range of range of infectious hazards associated with healthcare premises, the importance of multidisciplinary risk assessment and absolute necessity for a multidisciplinary approach to designing, constructing, fitting out, filling and commissioning new systems which should be considered from the concept stage of a new build to ensure the water and waste water systems are safe for the intended patient groups and factors to consider when designing for immunocompromised patients at high risk of infection.

Biography:

Dr Surman-Lee is a Consultant Clinical Scientist Registered with the UK Health Professions Council. with >40y experience in clinical and public health microbiology and practical experience of auditing and investigating over 60 healthcare premises following colonization, cases and/or outbreaks of water systems and associated equipment including from Legionella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, NTM) nationally and internationally. She has a strong scientific and research background with a PhD on Legionella growth within biofilms. Susanne. She has also worked as a temporary advisor to WHO and as a Member of the WHO working and editorial groups which published Legionella and the prevention of legionellosis (2007) and Water Safety in Buildings (2011).