Case Study
Clinical Grade Sterility for High-Risk Patient Safety
Location: Texas, USA
The Facility: 450-Bed Regional Hospital & Tertiary Care Center
The Challenge: Vulnerable Patients & Persistent Pathogens
A major regional hospital identified a recurring presence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the water supply of their Hematology-Oncology unit. Despite the facility’s secondary disinfection system (chlorine dioxide) meeting all municipal standards, the "biofilm reservoir" in the plumbing continued to release pathogens.
The hospital's Infection Control Committee faced a critical dilemma:
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The Risk: Immunocompromised patients were at high risk of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) from water aerosolization during bedside care and hygiene.
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The Constraint: Traditional "hyper-chlorination" was not an option as it would corrode the hospital's high-end medical equipment and disrupt clinical workflows.
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The MWT-USA Solution: Point-of-Use Clinical Isolation
MWT-USA was brought in to provide a "Sterile-at-Tap" solution. By focusing on the Point-of-Use (POU), we allowed the hospital to create a clinical-grade environment in the most sensitive areas without altering the entire building’s water chemistry.
As an FDA-registered medical device establishment (#10094411), MWT-USA provided the hospital with the necessary regulatory documentation to satisfy Joint Commission (TJC) and CMS water management requirements.
Products Used:
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AquaGuard Pro (Under-Sink Ultra-Filtration): Installed in the unit's nourishment stations and ice machines. The AquaGuard Pro ensured that water used for oral medication or patient hydration was completely pure, preserving essential minerals while physically retaining all harmful bacteria.
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PurGuard360 (Medical Shower Handle): Installed in high-risk patient bathrooms. Its specialized design prevents the aerosolization of bacteria, ensuring that the mist inhaled by patients during showers is sterile-grade.
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SkyStream (Fixed/Ceiling Showerhead):
Installed in high-risk patient bathrooms. Its specialized design prevents the aerosolization of bacteria, ensuring that the mist inhaled by patients during showers is sterile-grade.
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TapTech Pro (Faucet Tap Protector): Installed on all sinks in the ICU, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant units. The 0.08 µm medical-grade membrane ensures that water used for patient hygiene and hand-washing is free from NTM and Legionella.
The Result:
The hospital successfully eliminated waterborne NTM detections in all protected units within minutes of installation.
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Clinical Confidence: The facility achieved Log 10 (99.99999999%) reduction, far exceeding the requirements for standard patient safety.
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Compliance Made Simple: By utilizing MWT’s EPA FIFRA-registered technology, the hospital’s Water Management Team was able to document a "Validated Control Point" for their ASHRAE 188 / Chapter 12 water management plan.
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Zero Disruption: The solution was implemented while the hospital was at 95% occupancy, requiring zero patient transfers and no chemical downtime.
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