Publication type: Conference poster
Type of review: Not specified
Title: Legionella prevention in water systems in hospitals : stakeholders and the process seen from facility management
Authors: Leiblein, Thomas
Tucker, Matt
Ashall, Mal
Al Khaddar, Rafid
Lee, Susanne
Gollnisch, Carsten
Hofer, Susanne
Published in: Waterline
Volume(Issue): 2017
Issue: Autumn
Page(s): 37
Conference details: 9th International Conference on Legionella, Rome, Italy, 26-30 September 2017
Issue Date: 2017
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Industrial Water Society
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Tamworth
ISSN: 0954-7711
Language: English
Subjects: Legionella; Hospital; Risk management; Facility management; Water safety
Subject (DDC): 610: Medicine and health
658.2: Facility Management
Abstract: An ongoing research project systematically uncovers the situation of Legionella in water Systems in healthcare organisations. Healthcare facilities (i.e. hospitals) can be part of a Facility Management (FM) portfolio. The aim of the overall research project is to work out a framework for FM. The discipline FM is present in healthcare and operates within a range of regulations specific to a country. According to the International Facility Management Association an organisation has to take precautions to manage risks properly. Data on six case studies of three countries were collected in a two-stage sequential exploratory research study design. Expert’s interviews were followed by a questionnaire study including further groups of stakeholders. The study focuses on the organisational structure with respect to the process of Legionella prevention, seen from a FM’s perspective. Findings demonstrate fundamental differences in the organisational structure in hospitals and thus, the different process owners working for Legionella prevention in water systems. The UK follows recommendations of the WHOs water safety plan by maintaining a defined group of specialists (water safety team). In Germany and Switzerland the ‘hygiene commission’ implements decision-making and takes responsibility for infection prevention measures. Potentially the organisational structure has an impact on the awareness of topics related infection prevention of hazards related to water hygiene. Usually a technical operations unit (or similar) is responsible for maintaining water systems. Present-day economically driven budget cuts, delayed reconstruction works or incomplete risk assessments may be recognised and counteracted by those in scope of liability. For that reason a process-scheme for Legionella prevention in water systems may be helpful to identify every stakeholder working for the joint process. This study may be a headstone, considering FM’s needs and duties within the context of healthcare.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/5956
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): Not specified
Departement: Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit: Institute of Facility Management (IFM)
Appears in collections:Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
Show full item record
Leiblein, T., Tucker, M., Ashall, M., Al Khaddar, R., Lee, S., Gollnisch, C., & Hofer, S. (2017). Legionella prevention in water systems in hospitals : stakeholders and the process seen from facility management [Conference poster]. Waterline, 2017(Autumn), 37.
Leiblein, T. et al. (2017) ‘Legionella prevention in water systems in hospitals : stakeholders and the process seen from facility management’, in Waterline. Tamworth: Industrial Water Society, p. 37.
T. Leiblein et al., “Legionella prevention in water systems in hospitals : stakeholders and the process seen from facility management,” in Waterline, 2017, vol. 2017, no. Autumn, p. 37.
LEIBLEIN, Thomas, Matt TUCKER, Mal ASHALL, Rafid AL KHADDAR, Susanne LEE, Carsten GOLLNISCH und Susanne HOFER, 2017. Legionella prevention in water systems in hospitals : stakeholders and the process seen from facility management. In: Waterline. Conference poster. Tamworth: Industrial Water Society. 2017. S. 37
Leiblein, Thomas, Matt Tucker, Mal Ashall, Rafid Al Khaddar, Susanne Lee, Carsten Gollnisch, and Susanne Hofer. 2017. “Legionella Prevention in Water Systems in Hospitals : Stakeholders and the Process Seen from Facility Management.” Conference poster. In Waterline, 2017:37. Tamworth: Industrial Water Society.
Leiblein, Thomas, et al. “Legionella Prevention in Water Systems in Hospitals : Stakeholders and the Process Seen from Facility Management.” Waterline, vol. 2017, no. Autumn, Industrial Water Society, 2017, p. 37.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.