We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Subscription
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • HOW TO
    • Design
    • Fire Protection
    • Legal Matters
    • Management
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Behind the Wall
    • Webinars
    • AHR Live 2023
  • PODCASTS
  • DIGITAL EDITIONS
Home » Study: Sink Drains Next to Toilets in Patient Rooms Equals a Reservoir of Bacteria

Study: Sink Drains Next to Toilets in Patient Rooms Equals a Reservoir of Bacteria

February 12, 2019
No Comments
Study: Sink Drains Next to Toilets in Patient Rooms Equals a Reservoir of Bacteria

Sinks situated next to patient toilets in hospital rooms may be reservoirs for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, increasing the risk of dangerous germ transmission, according to new research published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

"This study, if validated, could have major implications for infection control," write study authors, Blake Buchan, PhD, and Silvia Munoz-Price, MD, PhD. "If sinks next to toilets are indeed a reservoir for KPC, additional interventions, such as modified hand hygiene practices and sink disinfection protocols, may be needed to stem the risk of transmission among healthcare providers and patients alike."

The study found a high prevalence of KPC positivity in sink drains located next to toilets. Of the samples tested, 87 percent of patient sinks next to toilets tested positive for KPC in stark comparison to the 21.7 percent of sink drains located closer to the entry door of the room.

The study suggested that communal pipes between toilets and sinks could be responsible for the contamination of sink drains. The contamination also could be occurring via droplets during flushing. A third possibility is that routine hand washing by patients and health care workers could introduce bacteria.
The study was conducted in the medical intensive care unit of a 600-bed Wisconsin hospital, where rooms include two sinks and a toilet, which are surface cleaned daily with separate cloths to avoid cross-contamination.

In four out of five sinks that tested positive near the entry of the room, sinks near the toilets also tested positive suggesting a potential source for cross-contamination within the same room. The ICU did not have any documented interactions with KPC-producing organisms within the past year.

Klebsiella is a type of bacteria that can cause a number of healthcare associated infections, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound infections, or surgical site infections. Increasingly, Klebsiella bacteria have developed antimicrobial resistance, most recently to the class of antibiotics known as carbapenems.

 

Engineers & Specifiers Health Care Industry Community News Plumbing Safety
  • Related Articles

    Study shows how antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread from hospital sink drain pipe?

    New Hospital Study Says Heat Exchangers May Act as Legionella Reservoir

    Water-efficient toilets could save 170 billion gallons of water each year, says PMI, AWE study

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular

  • Chicago Plumber’s Union Dyes Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s Day 2023

  • Peterman Brothers Charity Showdown Supports Indianapolis-Area Community Organizations

  • Six Truths About New DOE 2023 HVAC Efficiency Standards

  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Orangeburg Pipe (But Were Afraid To Ask)

Featured Video

Caleffi video thumb

The Gold Standard: Separation with NO Compromise

Industry Events

  • 26Mar

    MCAA 2023 Annual Convention

    Phoenix, AZ
  • 29Mar

    2023 SFPE European Conference & Expo

    Berlin ,
  • 11Apr

    ASA ELEVATE2023

    Charleston, SC
More Events

Subscribe to our newsletters & stay updated

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw03 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Pe03 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Phc03 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Es 2022
    Learn More
Subscribe

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2023 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing