This FREE Master Class is brought to you by TIPS

TOPIC: The Emerging Threat of Biofilms in Hospital Drains; New approaches to Impact Contamination and HAIs.

ORIGINAL PRESENTATION DATE: June 27, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Description

Biofilms are the most common mechanism of growth for microorganisms and are a key survival factor in harsh environments. Bacteria encased in biofilms have been shown to be over 1000 times less susceptible to disinfectants than free living bacteria. Recent studies indicate biofilms containing MDROs are found in drains and are linked to hospital infections. New methods and technology provide an opportunity to impact drains and other hospital surfaces to reduce HAI rates. This presentation will explore the challenge of biofilm in drains, other hospital surfaces and new methods to address the issue.

Key Learning Objectives

1. Explain how biofilms develop and flourish in hospital drains.
2. Review the challenge with common methods to address biofilms in hospital drains and other hospital surfaces.
3. Summarize new approaches to overcome the biofilm challenges in healthcare settings.

Full video of our Thursday June 27, 2024 Webinar:

SPEAKERS

John LaRochelle

John is the founder and CEO of Environmental Infection Prevention, Inc. (EIP), President of Lighthouse Healthcare Partners and TIPS Board Member.  Environmental Infection Prevention was created as a result of his career long commitment to reducing illness and saving lives through the elimination of infections with best in class people, process and technology. Prior to EIP, John spent over 30 years with Sodexo where he began his career as a housekeeper and rose through the ranks holding US, North American and Global Executive Leadership Positions.  These positions included VP of ES/Laundry USA, Head of Innovation for North America and finally the Global Leader for Environmental Infection Prevention where he was responsible for their global environmental infection prevention and cleaning program development across all business segments within 80 countries.

In addition to those roles, his experience also includes facilities management and safety experience in hospitals, long term care, corporate and education establishments with direct management experience in environmental infection prevention, maintenance, biomedical engineering, construction, housekeeping, laundry and safety.  John was also responsible for program development, technical support of 600 health care locations within the USA.  His professional career path has provided him with top to bottom expertise in environmental infection prevention, as well as the ability to establish productive collaboration with all the key stakeholders necessary to impact change.

Dan Mueller MS, BS, CHEST

Dan Mueller is a Senior Vice President at Kersia Healthcare and TIPS Board Member, steeped in the HealthCare/Infection Prevention sector.

Dan brings a deep-rooted passion for problem solving and 25+ years of experience working with healthcare facilities to reduce infections.  Dan has been working closely with Hospital Infection Prevention and Environmental services introducing new technology to address HAI’s.   Dan has extensive experience in surface and also hospital water contamination and solutions to prevent HAIs.