What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a type of bacteria that lives in water and soil. It loves warm water and can grow in pipes, taps, and shower heads. It forms a slimy layer (biofilm) that protects it from cleaning and chlorine.

Why is it a Problem?

For healthy people, Pseudomonas is usually harmless. But for people who are already ill - especially in hospitals and care homes - it can cause serious infections:

• Wound infections
• Chest infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Blood infections (sepsis)

This is why it is taken very seriously in healthcare settings.

Where Does It Grow?

Pseudomonas likes to grow in:

• Tap outlets (especially mixer taps)
• Flexible hoses
• Shower heads
• Dead legs (pipes that go nowhere)
• Scale build-up inside pipes
• Anywhere water sits still or is warm

How to Test for It

1. Use a 250ml or 500ml sample bottle (with sodium thiosulphate if chlorinated).
2. Do NOT clean or disinfect the tap before sampling.
3. Do NOT flush - run the tap for 2-3 seconds only.
4. Fill the bottle without touching the tap.
5. Keep at 2-8 degrees C and get to lab within 24 hours.

Understanding Results

| Result | What It Means | What to Do | |---|---|---| | Not detected | Good | Keep monitoring as normal | | 1-10 CFU/100ml | Check the system | Investigate the outlet, clean tap and aerator, re-test | | Over 10 CFU/100ml | Bad - especially in healthcare | Take outlet out of use, disinfect, investigate source, re-test |

How to Get Rid of It

1. Take the outlet out of use (in healthcare settings).
2. Clean and disinfect the tap, flexible hoses, and shower head.
3. Remove scale from inside the tap.
4. Flush the outlet thoroughly.
5. Check for dead legs and remove them.
6. Replace the tap or flexible hose if it keeps coming back.
7. Re-test after 2-7 days.
8. Keep re-testing until you get two clear results in a row.