The healthcare facility is intended to protect and provide care, not only to its’ patients, but also to their visitors and to all personnel providing care or maintenance of the building. The healthcare water system presents challenges in the control of healthcare associated pathogens in water. The ability to provide optimal care is facilitated by an “effective” building framework and appropriate products to minimize the transmission of healthcare pathogens in the clinical environment.

It is the responsibility of a number of disciplines from planning, engineering, infection control, microbiology and scientific need to support the completion and maintain a safe environment. The opening of new hospital buildings is a complex operation and prior to admitting patients, the microbiological safety assured. Various local and national guidelines are available to assist but experience often highlights areas overlooked or requiring review.

In this presentation, findings and lessons learned from the opening and commissioning of new hospital buildings designed for high-risk patient care, with particular focus on healthcare water system pathogens, are described. The various approaches (sinks, showers, antimicrobial surfaces, point-of-use filters, biocides) introduced and investigatory sampling plans explored to monitor and control persistence and transmission risks are discussed.