System proves effective in combating P. aeruginosa

James Donagain, head of Healthcare Compliance at Skanska UK, is relentless in his commitment to upholding rigorous and sustainable hygiene standards within healthcare facilities. His tireless pursuit led him to confront the persistent challenge of Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination, in particular at the inherently vulnerable periphery of domestic water systems. Following a journey of discovery, James has whole-heartedly embraced a simple, yet ground-breaking new technology, emerging as its enthusiastic champion.

A well-seasoned chartered health and safety practitioner, and stalwart of compliance, James boasts extensive qualifications and considerable expertise in water hygiene. Throughout his career, he has discerned that Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) contamination at the periphery of water systems is often pervasive and widespread, and also potentially unavoidable. Moreover, his tenacity and strong desire to 'do the right thing' to guarantee patient safety, alongside his wealth of experience, has really shone a light on the profound inadequacies of many conventional approaches to the P. aeruginosa problem. So, combining an open mind with a healthy scepticism, he began exploring alternative solutions.

Leading James's inquiry was a new product, the In-Line Thermal Disinfection Unit (ILTDU) from Horne Engineering, a system he first encountered while serving as Hard FM manager at a Cambridgeshire NHS Trust, during a CPD presentation: 'Engineering versus Pseudomonas, Legionella, and the retrograde contamination of domestic water services by microorganisms'. This patented technology facilitates routine thermal disinfection local to a single outlet, using the readily available system temperature hot water and, crucially, without placing excessive strain on the hot water system. The presentation and concept sparked fresh ideas in his mind, and he eagerly anticipated an opportunity to personally test the design.