Adelaide hospital introduces revolutionary water technology set to radically improve patient safety and recovery

<h6>Latest News</h6><h1 style="color: #00b1bf;">An Australian first in healthcare.</h1>North Eastern Community Hospital in Adelaide is the first in Australia to introduce ground-breaking technology that will permanently eliminate Legionella in their water pipelines, providing patients with the safest water in the country.The Ecas4 system, developed in Italy, and already widely used throughout Europe, successfully eliminates pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and mono-cell algae from main and drinking water without the use of toxic chemicals.Scott Williams, CEO of the North Eastern Community Hospital, says “We are thrilled to be the first hospital in Australia to introduce this technology which means we offer the safest and cleanest water out of any other hospital in Australia.”Ecas4’s National Business Manager, Simon Crabb, says “Legionella is a real risk for hospitals as it is for any building that has a reticulated water system. There’s nothing on the market that will control Legionella as well as Ecas4 can.”Bacteria are naturally present in water and are able to form a three-dimensional structure on the internal surface of pipes called biofilm. Biofilm is a thin layer of organic material where bacteria like Legionella can bind and develop.Williams explains that before using the Ecas4 system their water treatment would flush away the Legionella, but it didn’t break down the biofilm.“The difference with this technology is that it actually destroys the biofilm and prevents Legionella from building or forming in the pipes in the first place.”Currently hospitals have to heat their water to more than 70 degrees to eliminate pathogens or bacteria that exist within their water system. Williams says “With this new technology on board, we’ll be able to reduce our heating requirements down to domestic levels which has a massive impact on our energy consumption and the ability to reduce our gas bill by a third.”Ecas4 Australia’s CEO, Tony Amorico, says there are significant opportunities within the healthcare and food industries and has invested in the relocation and expansion of the R&D program. Ecas4 have engaged Dr Sergio Ferro – an Italian electrochemist involved in the formation of the technology. NECH have partnered with the University of South Australia to independently research the project.Amorico explains that the Ecas4-Anolyte will destroy pathogens including Escherichia coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Campylobacter and MRSA (‘golden staph’) without any form of resistence. He says “The Ecas4-Anolyte solution can be used in nebulisation form to attack pathogens present on surfaces, including equipment, machinery and food. Our long-term goal is to use this technology to sterilise healthcare facilities, waiting areas and hospital rooms.”Williams says “Our hospital and aged care facility covers a broad spectrum of patients and residents, from newborn babies to the elderly. We have now improved patient safety, particularly for those vulnerable groups.”“Risk is always evident in healthcare and we aim to remove it wherever we can. The Ecas4 project sets us on a clear path to being able to eliminate that risk of Legionella completely.” <h5>North Eastern Community Hospital & Aged Care Facility</h5>North Eastern Community Hospital is a not-for-profit, community owned private hospital and nursing home facility focused on providing quality clinical services to the local community.Situated in Campbelltown, 10 km north east of the city of Adelaide, South Australia, the modern 60 bed hospital specialises in General Surgery, Medical, Obstetrics, Orthopaedics, Laparoscopic Surgery, Gynaecology, Gastroenterology, Dental and Residential Aged Care.<a class="more-link" target="_blank" href="https://www.northeasternhospital.com.au/">northeasternhospital.com.au</a> <h5>Ecas4</h5>Ecas4 was founded to provide health structures, in patient departments and accommodation of all kinds, with technologies in the field of bacterial disinfection.The Ecas4 system eliminates pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and mono-cell algae, from main and drinking water without the use of toxic chemicals, and, crucially, also eradicates the biofilm that is commonly found in the piping of any material.A minimal dose of the Ecas4-Anolyte disinfection solution is injected into water pipelines to provide disinfection without altering the potability of the treated water.The Ecas4-Anolyte is safe for humans and the environment, and ensures clean water (elimination of pathogenic bacteria and especially the bacterium responsible for Legionnaire’s disease).

<h5>This article was featured in The Australian Hospital Engineer Journal, Summer 2016 (pg 60-61)</h5> The Australian Hospital Engineer is the official journal of the Institute of Hospital Engineering Australia (IHEA). The IHEA is the relevant professional organisation for engineers and engineering facility managers employed in the private and public health care sectors, from the smallest to the largest facility, as well as consultants engaged in related work.

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