The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) gave the following statement on the Pseudomonas outbreak at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast.
“According to reports in the press, there has been a call for taps in neo-natal units to be replaced. The CIPHE would like to emphasise the importance of only WRAS approved fittings being used. It is equally important that they are installed by Registered Plumbers. Poorly maintained plumbing systems, especially in hospitals, can be detrimental to the health of patients.”
The Chairman of the CIPHE Board of Trustees, Professor Rodney Cartwright, a Medical Microbiologist, gave the following comment:
“Certainly the plumbing should be of high quality - correct approved washers and joint sealing materials - Pseudomonas will grow in some jointing compounds and on non approved washers. Configurations that have lengths of stagnant water should also be avoided - the same recommendation applies to minimising Legionella pneumophila.”
Pseudomonas and pseudomonas-like organisms thrive in moist places and sink traps are no exception, as also are damp mop heads and cleaning buckets. Taps that are not kept clean, especially the course filter in many tap heads, can be a breeding ground - when statutory water samples are collected the tap is always disinfected before the sample is taken.
The CIPHE holds the register of professional plumbers. Please visit www.ciphe.org.uk