Back to Basics: Waterborne Pathogens of Concern in Healthcare Premises

Manjula Meda, a consultant in Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention doctor with over 17 years of NHS experience, is Chair of the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS). She has a special interest in water and wastewater safety in healthcare and combatting in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through better hospital design. She led pioneering work in the UK in developing the first “water-safe” units at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust where she is currently employed. She has led with colleagues, development of the HIS educational course on Water and wastewater safety and the BEIPI (Built Environment Infection Prevention Initiative).

Dr Susanne Surman-Lee is a Consultant Clinical Scientist (HCPC registered, Public Health Microbiology) with over 40 years’ experience in the prevention and control of waterborne pathogens in healthcare and other built environments and is a Director of Leegionella Ltd, an independent public health microbiology consultancy specialising in water safety, outbreak investigation and the prevention of waterborne disease. Her work sits at the interface of clinical microbiology, the built environment and public health, with a particular focus on opportunistic waterborne pathogens, peripheral water systems and antimicrobial resistance. Dr Surman-Lee has extensive experience in outbreak investigation, risk assessment and advisory work across healthcare settings. She regularly contributes to national and international discussions on healthcare water safety and antimicrobial resistance, and is a frequent invited speaker on the ecology, transmission and control of waterborne pathogens in healthcare environments.