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Dr Tom Makin has been actively involved
in all aspects of clinical diagnostic microbiology for
40 years. He was Directorate Manager of the Department
of Medical Microbiology at the Royal Liverpool University
Hospitals for 25 years. He is a Fellow of the Institute
of Biomedical Sciences, registered with the Health Professions
Council, a Chartered Scientist, a Member of the Water
Management Society, and has a BA and a PhD.
| Dr Makin's PhD was awarded
by the Medical Faculty of the University of Liverpool
in 1995. It focused on environmental aspects of
Legionnaires’ disease and the efficacy of
various measures used to control legionellae in
cooling towers, domestic water systems, and other
aquatic systems. As part of his PhD thesis he developed
a procedure for the rapid detection of legionellae
in water systems and biofilms, and using antibody
techniques monitored the incidence of legionella
infection in immuno-compromised patients and others
in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. |
 Dr
Tom Makin |
Dr Makin's scientific/research interests are predominantly
associated with infection control arising from microbial
contamination of domestic water (drinking, and hot and
cold potable waters) and industrial water systems, also
multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria in hospitals, air
quality in the working environment, Humidifier Fever,
Sick Building Syndrome, Legionnaires' disease, etc.
He has also tested the efficacy of many traditional
and new biocides against clinically significant bacteria,
and viruses.
In particular over the last 25 years, Dr Makin has
acquired extensive practical experience in biocides
and in the epidemiology, ecology, and control of the
legionella bacterium and other clinically significant
micro-organisms in various water systems. A number of
his papers on legionella have been published in scientific
and technical journals, and he has presented many papers
at conferences and seminars both nationally and internationally.
Dr Makin is an advisor to the Department of Health
(DoH) through their executive agency NHS Estates. He
participated in the production of their legionella technical
guidance for healthcare premises HTM 2040, and in the
replacement guidance HTM 04-01 which was published in
2006. He is a member of the working party that is currently
upgrading HTM 04-01. Dr Makin managed a 3-year study
for the DoH, which evaluated the efficacy of chlorine
dioxide in controlling legionellae and biofilm in a
hospital, where an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease
had occurred.
Dr Makin has advised many NHS Trusts throughout the
UK, municipalities in the middle east, local authorities
in the UK, fire services, cruise line companies, international
hotel chains, large food manufacturers, and many other
commercial organisations, on the control of legionella
bacteria and other micro-organisms in their water systems.
He has recently advised the UK Water Regulations Advisory
Service (WRAS) and the Water Management Society on solar
thermal hot water systems.
Dr Makin is a member of the Environment Agency’s
Standing Committee of Analysts working party that produced
the technical guidance (part 1) for the correct sampling
of water systems for the recovery of legionella bacteria.
He has also acted as an advisor to the UK Health and
Safety Executive on various aspects of Legionnaires'
disease. As a member of the HSE expert advisory committee
he co-authored the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance,
on the control of legionella bacteria in water systems
(L8). This document was released in the UK in January
2001. Dr.Makin has subsequently contributed to update
guidance on legionella control published on the HSE’s
website.
Dr Makin has acted as an expert witness and provided
expert advice to lawyers on various aspects of Legionnaires’
disease in a number of high profile cases heard in the
high court and Coroners court. These include Barrow,
Galstonbury, Cardiff, Hereford, and various other outbreaks
of Legionnaires’ disease.
To contact us please e-mail info@legionellacontrol.com
or call Legionella Control International on +44
(0) 161 877 0586.
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