New PreMiEr Publication: Hospital Sinks Can Emit Pathogen-Carrying Airborne Droplets
A new PreMiEr study finds that hospital faucets can generate bacteria-carrying bioaerosols, adding an airborne transmission pathway to the known risks of pathogen-colonized hospital sink drains.
Hospital sink drains are already known as reservoirs for dangerous pathogens, and a new PreMiEr study now shows that faucet use can generate bioaerosols and larger droplets that carry bacteria into the surrounding air. Using a controlled chamber and E. coli as a model organism, researchers found that while airborne concentrations were low, modeling suggests a small but measurable inhalation risk in hospitals with heavily colonized plumbing. The study, posted to SSRN, adds a new dimension to understanding how hospital sinks may contribute to healthcare-associated infections and reinforces the need for effective plumbing microbiome management strategies.
Read more here: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6172402