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Bacterial Contamination Associated With Electronic Faucets: A New Risk for Healthcare Facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

James Hargreaves ,
Larry Shireley ,
Shannon Hansen ,
Virginia Bren ,
Gordon Fillipi ,
Craig Lacher ,
Virginia Esslinger  and
Terry Watne
James Hargreaves*
Affiliation:
Department of Infection, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Larry Shireley
Affiliation:
North Dakota Department of Health, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Shannon Hansen
Affiliation:
Department of Infection, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Virginia Bren
Affiliation:
Department of Infection, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Gordon Fillipi
Affiliation:
Department of Infection, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Craig Lacher
Affiliation:
Grand Forks City Water Treatment Plant, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Virginia Esslinger
Affiliation:
Department of Research, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Terry Watne
Affiliation:
Medical Specialty Division, Altru Health System, Grand Forks, North Dakota
*
Department of Infection Control, Altru Health System, 1200 South Columbia Rd, PO Box 6002, Grand Forks, ND 58201-6002
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Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the safety of the hospital water supply following a major flood.

Design:

Surveillance was conducted of the hospital water supply as it entered the hospital and at randomly selected water faucets throughout the facility.

Setting:

A newly constructed surgical critical-care unit in a 265-bed community hospital that had to be evacuated and was out of operation for 6 weeks following a major flood of the city.

Methods:

Random water samples throughout the facility were analyzed for heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs), chlorine, and coliforms utilizing standard methods.

Results:

Water samples entering the hospital met appropriate standards, indicating the city water distribution system was not contaminated. Of 169 faucets tested, 13 (22%) of 59 electronic faucets exceeded the HPC threshold, and 12 (11%) of 110 manual faucets exceeded the HPC threshold (P<.14). A comparison of two brands of electronic faucets with manual faucets and with each other revealed that the HPC threshold was exceeded by 11 (32%) of 34 brand A faucets as compared to 12 (11%) of 110 manual faucets (P<.006). The HPC threshold was exceeded by 2 (8%) of 25 brand B faucets compared to 12 (11%) of 110 manual faucets (P<.94). Contamination rates of brand A and brand B faucets differed significantly (P<.003). Similar testing 2 months after hyperchlorination of the water supply indicated that the HPC threshold was exceeded by 16 (52%) of 31 brand A faucets compared to 10 (9.%) of 110 manual faucets (P<.0000003) and by 2 (18%) of 25 brand B faucets compared to 10 (9%) of 110 manual faucets (P=1.0).

Conclusions:

A certain brand of electronic water faucet used in the hospital was associated with unacceptable levels of microbial growth in water and was a continuing source of bacteria potentially hazardous to patients.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , April 2001 , pp. 202 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2001

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