Limiting spread of VIM-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa from colonized sink drains in a tertiary care hospital: A before-and-after study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In healthcare environments, sinks are being increasingly recognized as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In our hospital, carbapenemase-producing, Verona Integron-encoded Metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM)-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa (VIM-PA) was detected at low endemicity in patients, and environmental culturing revealed that sink drains were primary reservoirs. Therefore, an intervention was initiated in several wards to install sink drain plugs as physical barriers against splashing to prevent transmission of VIM-PA from drain reservoirs to the surrounding sink environment.

Aim

To assess the efficacy of the intervention on limiting spread of VIM-PA.

Methods

Swabs were taken from inner sink environments (i.e. drains), and outer sink

SUBMITTER: Pirzadian J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10038242 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature