The effects of a prospective sink environmental hygiene intervention on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia burden in hospital sinks.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) can establish reservoirs in hospital plumbing and cause healthcare associated infections (HAIs). There is currently no widely accepted protocol for sink drain cleaning to reduce OPPP burden.

Methods

We implemented a sink cleaning intervention in 12 intensive care unit (ICU) rooms. At low frequency (1×/week) and high frequency (5×/week) intervals, we wiped sink surfaces with 10% bleach wipes and pumped a foamed preacid disinfectant into sink drains. We also maintained untreated rooms (0×/week). We used E-swabs to sample sink drains and surrounding surfaces during one baseline, two intervention, and two post-intervention periods over 23 months. Samples were selectively cultured for bacterial growth and antimicrobial r

SUBMITTER: Newcomer EP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12148583 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature