Water as an issue for infection prevention is a new focus for evidence-based infection control design. Water quality is often taken for granted because water is readily available; however, water stagnation in hospitals leads to biofilm formation with pathogenic antibiotic-resistant water bacteria potentially in the mix. Therefore, efforts to control Legionella and other gram-negative bacteria are often required to keep hospital drinking water safe. This session will address the complex nature of plumbing and microbial ecology and efforts to control microbial growth, as well as the new ASHRAE 188 standard Prevention of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems. The session will enable you to:

* List waterborne pathogens that could affect hospitalized patients and identify where they are mostly commonly found.
* List control measures necessary to implement a water-related infection control risk assessment for microbial safety.