Plumbing systems in healthcare facilities are particularly vulnerable to microbial contamination. How can we reduce risks from microbial pathogens under the new plumbing material regulations?
Recently, the Australian Building Codes Board mandated that lead in brass plumbing products be reduced to 0.25% (from 4–6%). This reduction in lead content is supported by Enware Australia as it will ultimately improve water quality.
However, the current risks associated with lead in potable water in Australia are negligible, as stated by Australia’s previous chief medical officer Prof Brendan Murphy, and the rush to implement the new regulations, in the absence of an acute risk from lead, has many in the plumbing industry concerned that the speed of the changes may result in unintended consequences.
In particular, the uptake of replacement materials such as stainless steel and various polymers (e.g., Acetal, Polypropylene, Nylon) in place of leaded brass (which is known to present antibacterial properties) may result in increased risks of water system contamination by opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) such as Legionella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and non-tuberculosis mycobacterium.
OPPPs can cause severe disease in humans, including pneumonia, skin and wound infections, and are particularly dangerous for vulnerable individuals with co-morbidities. Infections from OPPPs have already been deemed a crisis in the healthcare industry, with hospital tap water described “as the most overlooked, important and controllable source of hospital acquired infections”.
Our research shows proposed replacement materials for brass and lead-free brass, such as stainless steel, present a higher risk of contamination by OPPPs, thus increasing risks to patients. Surveillance monitoring and maintenance of building water systems, in concert with plumbing material choice, are critical to understanding and minimising risks associated with OPPPs in healthcare facilities.
Click here to read the full scientific paper
Image: In the fluorescence microscopy pics of the bacteria, green dots are live bacteria, red dots are dead bacteria.
