Experts Call for Heightened Awareness and Action to Remove Dangerous Pathogens from Hospital Water.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology

Annual Conference

EAST HILLS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2004

Thousands of patients in the U.S. become ill and die each year from hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. Many of these infections are transmitted on the hands of healthcare workers or from contaminated instruments or surfaces. However, most people are surprised to learn that the water system in a hospital is a significant source of these infections. Two of the world's leading experts on hospital waterborne infection, Janet E. Stout, PhD, and Elias J. Anaissie, MD, are calling for increased infection control initiatives in a special symposium sponsored by filtration industry leader Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) at the annual conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) in Phoenix, Arizona today. They will discuss the extent of the problem and the potential risk to patients from contaminated waters systems in hospitals and nursing homes.

An important and often overlooked source of nosocomial infection is the water distribution system. According to authorities in the field, pneumonias caused by bacteria, such as Legionella, or fungi, such as Aspergillus, can grow in and contaminate faucets, taps and showers in hospitals and may be potentially fatal for immune compromised patients,…