Pseudomona Risk Assessments

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Risk Assessments for Hospitals and Care Units

What is Pseudomonas?

Pseudomonas species are widely present in the environment and in many cases will be present in low numbers in the incoming mains supply to healthcare premises.

The majority of pseudomonas species are not harmful to humans but pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in immune-suppressed patients.

Who’s at Risk?

Patients within augmented care units, paediatric and adult critical care, neonatal and burns units, cancer sufferers, patients undergoing multiple invasive procedures (endotracheal intubation, venous catheterisation, urinary catheters, etc.) patients suffering from cystic fibrosis, patients with wounds, bedsores, or injuries prone to infection.

It is an opportunistic pathogen, responsible in healthcare institutions for serious and often fatal hospital acquired infections (30% fatality rate in receptive populations).

NIFES Services:

NIFES provide a strategic and practical approach to health and safety management, covering both short and long term objectives.

We can analyse information from physical surveys and existing data to produce health and safety audits, risk assessment reviews, training needs analyses and compliance gap analyses.

NIFES are an independent consultancy providing impartial advice.

Why undertake Risk Assessments:

The HTM 04-01 Addendum published in March 2013 specifically addresses the need for risk assessments as a requirement for preventing pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of patients.

What can NIFES do?

NIFES Consulting Group has undertaken pseudomonas risk assessments for a number of hospital trusts and has also contributed to the subsequent development of Water Safety Plans. The aims of these risk assessments are to:

a) assess the degree of compliance with current guidance relating to controlling the risk from Pseudomonas;
b) assess the ongoing risk from Pseudomonas within the Hospital / Health Centre;
c) assess the effectiveness of the Pseudomonas management programme at the Hospital / Health Centre.

Following this, NIFES then propose an Action Plan to address any shortcomings identified.

NIFES provide independent advice to comply with the requirements of HTM 04-01 and also improve patient safety.