Study finds hospital sinks are highly susceptible to multidrug-resistant bacteria

Hospital Sinks Identified as Major Source of Drug-Resistant Bacteria

A new study reveals that hospital sinks can harbor high levels of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, raising concerns about the spread of these "superbugs" in healthcare settings.

The research, published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), investigated a 2017 outbreak of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) in a pediatric ward at Toho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo.

The outbreak began with a single case in a one-year-old boy in June 2016. Over the following nine months, the outbreak grew to include 19 pediatric patients.

Investigators identified contamination with CPE in nine different sinks throughout the ward, including patient rooms, a nurse's station, and utility areas. worryingly, even after replacing all the sinks and disinfecting them thoroughly, contamination persisted.

Genetic analysis of the bacteria suggested it could potentially spread between different bacterial species within the hospital plumbing system. This highlights the risk of contaminated sinks acting as reservoirs for superbugs and facilitating their transmission.

The outbreak was eventually brought under control in October 2017 through a combination of stricter hygiene protocols. These included:

Mandatory handwashing after using sinks
Using disposable tools for sink cleaning
Prohibiting mouthwashing with sink water
Implementing disinfection and drying procedures for all items exposed to sink water

"Our findings emphasize the critical role of sinks and other water-related areas in spreading CPE within hospitals," said lead author Sadako Yoshizawa, Associate Professor at Toho University. "This highlights the importance of prioritizing these areas in the fight against antibiotic resistance."

April 20, 2024 12:22 a.m. 131

#trending #latest #HOSPITALS #SINKS