Healthcare environmental reservoirs of infection : investigating water systems and the use of electrochemically activated solution Ecasol as a versatile disinfectant

Abstract

A reservoir of infection is any site in which viable infectious agents can live and grow. Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) are caused by the acquisition of infectious agents by patients during the course of their care from reservoirs such as staff, other patients and the inanimate environment. This study investigated and addressed some environmental reservoirs of infection in healthcare facilities related to water systems and dentistry. Pseudomonas aemginosa is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for 8.9% of HCAIs in Europe and frequently exhibits resistance to antimicrobial agents. Little characterisation of P. aemginosa isolates from environmental reservoirs of infection in healthcare facilities has been undertaken especially of isolates from non clinical-associated reservoirs. To address this issue, the first part of the present study undertook a genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of a selection of 14 clinical and 64 environmental P. aemginosa isolates from water and wastewater systems in healthcare facilities in Dublin. A novel DNA microarray method was used for genotyping 72/78 of these isolates from which 24 unique array types were identified.