Ensuring Safe Water in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Guide

Written by renowned expert James T. Walker, “Safe Water in Healthcare: A Practical and Clinical Guide” is a vital resource for healthcare professionals seeking to understand and mitigate waterborne hazards that can pose a risk to patients, staff, and visitors.

Understanding Waterborne Pathogens and Hazards

The handbook delves into the world of microorganisms that can cause infections, exploring their modes of transmission, the risks they pose, and the infections they can cause. By examining the events that contribute to their presence and the factors that increase their levels, healthcare professionals can better anticipate and prepare for potential outbreaks.

Practical Guidance for Infection Control and Risk Management

The authors, drawing from their extensive experience in addressing day-to-day problems and outbreaks, provide practical answers to common issues that arise in healthcare water and drainage systems. The book includes case studies on biofilm growth and its impact on water systems, offering valuable insights into the complexities of infection control.

A Collaborative Approach to Water System Design and Management

The guide emphasizes the importance of good design, highlighting the type of design, management, hardware, and software required to control the presence of waterborne pathogens. It also underscores the need for a collaborative approach, involving professionals at every stage to ensure patient safety and compliance with current legislation and best practices.

By covering waterborne pathogens, their detection, identification, and surveillance, as well as the diseases they cause and consequences to patients and staff, this handbook fills a critical gap in infection control knowledge. It is an indispensable resource for healthcare professionals, facilities managers, and designers seeking to create safe and hygienic environments for all.

Key topics include:

• Waterborne pathogens, their detection, identification, and surveillance
• Hazards that can cause harm within water systems and associated equipment
• Circumstances or factors that increase the risks of waterborne pathogens
• Modes of transmission of waterborne pathogens
• Importance of good design, management, hardware, and software in controlling waterborne pathogens
• Collaborative approach to ensuring patient safety and compliance with legislation and best practices

Published by Elsevier Science, this essential handbook is available in English, with an ISBN of 9780323904926 (hardcover) and 9780323904933 (e-book).