Managing water safety in healthcare. Part 1--Strategies and approaches for waterborne pathogen control.

Summaries in 2 parts are presented from a conference held in London at the Royal Society for Public Health on 16-17 May 2012, on the latest developments in dealing with waterborne hospital-acquired infections (nosocomial), from the UK perspective. Also included were some views from continental Europe. The first part, focuses on management strategies and plans that are either in use or recommended by domestic/international guidelines, such as the WHO, for prevention, control and risk assessment of disease outbreaks resulting from the presence of these pathogenic microorganisms in water appliances/supplies. Various solutions are discussed, some more effective than others, but all require a comprehensive strategy and technical expertise run by properly trained and dedicated professionals.

Managing water safety in healthcare. Part 2--practical measures and considerations taken for waterborne pathogen control.

These summaries form the second part of presentations made at a recent conference held at the Royal Society for Public Health in London, 16-17 May 2012, on the latest developments in combating waterborne hospital-acquired infections (nosocomial). The first part (Ann Agric Environ Med 2012; 19(3): 395-402) has focused more on the adopted strategies/approaches from the UK perspective, (some also from continental Europe), whereas the presented second part (sections 1-7 below), is dedicated more to practical solutions, and examples of features used in water systems that are or have been considered effective.