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Date

Dec. 11, 2024

Time

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Location

Online

Virtual

Review of Technical Solutions to Mitigate Legionella and Waterborne Pathogens in Health Care Environments

Audience

infection preventionists, facility & engineering managers, water management stakeholders and risk managers

The following program content was provided by the speaker.

Overview

Health care facilities can have large, complex water systems that promote the growth of pathogenic organisms if not properly managed. This includes risks from Legionella bacteria and other opportunistic pathogens. There are requirements and guidelines from organizations like CMS, CDC, ASHRAE and TJC for health care facilities to have comprehensive water management programs to mitigate these risks. These water management programs should identify hazardous conditions and implement corrective actions, including technical solutions, to minimize the growth and spread of waterborne pathogens. This session will present and discuss various technical approaches and best practices for controlling Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in health care settings, such as targeted water sampling, secondary disinfection and point-of-use filtration. 

Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

    • identify the key factors and conditions that promote the growth of waterborne pathogens in health care environments
    • provide an overview of the different technical solutions and best practices available to control and mitigate the development of bacteria in health care facility water systems
    • discuss the pros and cons of various waterborne pathogen control measures, including their effectiveness, feasibility and any potential limitations

Speakers

Pascal Bru is the Vice President of Operations at AQUATOOLS INC., Infection Control Solutions, a company that specializes in the development, manufacturing and distribution of antimicrobial water solutions at the point of use. After more than 20 years as a business developer and executive VP in the field of analytical chemistry to grow and extend various markets (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics) all over the world, Bru joined AQUATOOLS INC. His mission is to help infection preventionists and facility managers improve water quality in health care environments and prevent the spread of waterborne pathogens to protect immunocompromised patients.

After scientific studies in chemistry and biochemistry in Strasbourg, France, Professor Philippe Hartemann entered the School of Medicine of Nancy, where he studied medicine and prepared a Ph.D. oriented toward biochemical mechanisms of endocrine regulation. After obtaining his M.D. degree and specialization in public health (epidemiology), he decided to turn his professional activity toward the study of the relationships between environment and human health: drinking water microbiology, environmental epidemiology and surveillance, waterborne outbreaks, hospital hygiene, and nosocomial infections control. As a member of French risk assessment committees since 1981, Hartemann served on numerous national and international working groups (e.g., WHO, EU), especially for water and Legionella, and as an adviser for programs of international cooperation in risk assessment, sanitary control, audit, advice, training and guideline proposals. He served as the head of the Department of Hospital Hygiene at the University Hospital of Nancy, France, and Professor of Public Health from 1985 to 2016. He then was interim CEO of the Luxembourg National Health Laboratory from 2016 to 2018. Now, he is a distinguished professor and adviser of the French Health Directorate, earning a Gold Medal in 2018 and being named a Knight of the "Légion d'Honneur."

General Information

General Information

Register

Register on or before Tuesday, Dec. 10, to ensure the delivery of instructional materials.

REGISTER ONLINE

Session recordings and available resources will be sent to participants after the event takes place.

Cost

  • Complimentary for MHA members
  • $225 per person for nonmembers

This event also is being offered at a reduced registration fee to MHA-member hospitals thanks to a generous contribution from the MHA Management Services Corporation.

Subject Matter Expert

Keri Barclay

Keri Barclay

Manager of Clinical Preparedness/Coalition Administrative Liaison

Send Email

573-893-3700 | ext. 1407

Event Contact

Sarah Bennett Crop LR

Sarah Bennett

Education and Events Coordinator

Send Email

573-893-3700 | ext. 1317

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