27 - Clinical surveillance of waterborne infections

Abstract

Surveillance of hospital-acquired infections is essential to track patient outcomes and to prevent further outbreaks and infections in patients. It has taken decades for the role of the environment and particularly the role of water in causing infections in vulnerable patients to become recognized. Waterborne infections are now relatively commonplace and almost accepted. While water is an everyday product that is handled in high-risk units, there needs to be recognition of the risk to vulnerable patients. As such clinical surveillance has a fundamental role in protecting patients by identifying water and wastewater outbreaks. In addition, the importance of environmental screening being undertaken once clinical outbreaks have been declared cannot be underestimated. Both clinical and environmental surveillance plays a major role in reducing the number of water-associated hospital-acquired infections. However, for this to happen, there needs to be continuing education of all the staff involved about the risks to vulnerable patients when handling water and using water in medical equipment.