Healthcare facility water systems can create conditions that allow growth of waterborne pathogens that have been linked to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.

Several modes of transmission have been cited for waterborne infections including direct contact, ingestion of water or ice, improperly reprocessed medical devices, inhalation of aerosols dispersed from water sources and aspiration of contaminated water, the article said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the criteria for drinking water is usually not adequate for medical uses. It is recommended that hospitalized patients at high risk for infection avoid exposure to hospital water and use sterile water instead.

A 2003 CDC guideline highlighted practices to control waterborne HAIs include:

• Controlling the spread of waterborne microorganisms

• Prevention of microbial contamination in water systems

• Remediation strategies for system repairs or emergencies

Creating a water management program can be complex, but there are many resources available to help guide healthcare facilities through the process, the article said.

Read the article.