Impact of sink design on bacterial transmission from hospital sink drains to the surrounding sink environment tested using a fluorescent marker

Impact of sink design on bacterial transmission from hospital sink drains to the surrounding sink environment tested using a fluorescent marker

Pirzadian, J. (Erasmus MC)
Souhoka, T. (TU Delft Applied Ergonomics and Design; Productzaken, Den Haag)
Herweijer, M. (Wiegerinck, Arnhem)
van Heel, M.E. (Erasmus MC)
van Wamel, W. J.B. (Erasmus MC)
Goossens, R.H.M. (TU Delft Human-Centered Design; TU Delft Applied Ergonomics and Design)
Severin, J. A. (Erasmus MC)
Vos, M. C. (Erasmus MC)

Human-Centered Design

2022

In hospitals, sinks act as reservoirs for bacterial pathogens. To assess the extent of splashing, fluorescein dye was added to four hospital sinks previously involved in pathogen dispersal to the environment and/or transmission to patients, and one sink that was not. Applying dye to the p-trap or tailpiece did not result in any fluorescent droplets outside of the drain. When applied to the drain, droplets were found in all but one wash basin, and this was more common in the absence of a drain plug. Sink design considerations to install drain plugs, reduce dripping and offset the tap may help to prevent transmission from drains.

Biofilm
Health facility environment
Healthcare-associated infections
Infection control
Pathogen transmission
Pseudomonas aeruginosa

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ae92649f-b102-4414-a537-a1e7bcf2256c

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2022.04.017

0195-6701

Journal of Hospital Infection, 127, 39-43

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2022 J. Pirzadian, T. Souhoka, M. Herweijer, M.E. van Heel, W. J.B. van Wamel, R.H.M. Goossens, J. A. Severin, M. C. Vos