Waterbirths: regional audit of infection control practices

Audit in infection control

“…Many audits are concerned with observing adherence to established guidelines, often on a regional [38][39][40][41][42] or national basis. [43][44][45][46][47] For example, a regional questionnaire-based audit of infection control practices in 16 centres during waterbirths found wide variations in care of the pool, use of disinfectants, microbiological testing of the pool, provision of face and eye protection for staff, and surveillance of infection in mother and child.…”

“…From the audit, recommendations were made that infection control policies for waterbirths should include instructions for pool maintenance and decontamination, prevention of legionella, universal precautions and use of personal protective equipment, hepatitis B vaccination for staff, and postnatal surveillance of babies for infection. 40 Local audits confined to one clinic or hospital are also popular. Examples of audits that highlight deficient practice in comparison with national guidelines include compliance with national infection control guidelines in dentistry 48 and hospital vancomycin use compared with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.…”

Detection and occurrence of indicator organisms and pathogens

“…Based on the results of a survey of the microbiological quality of In addition to drinking, individuals come into contact with water and therefore may be exposed to waterborne infectious agents through other activities. Kingsley et al (1999) surveyed medical centers providing waterbirths regarding infection control practices. They concluded that while most of the centers seemed to have adequate policies in place, there is a need for clear guidelines on pool maintenance and disinfection, as well as, routine monitoring of the water for pathogens to supplement normal hospital infection control practices.…”

Legionella pneumophilaPneumonia in a Newborn after Water Birth: A New Mode of Transmission

“…Water birth is increasingly being offered as an option. When water birth is practiced, infection control policies (pool maintenance and decontamination for Legionella species) are highly recommended to prevent Legionella transmission [10].…”