Should electronic faucets be used in intensive care and hematology units?
OBJECTIVE
To compare bacterial contamination associated with electronic faucets and manual faucets in wards admitting patients highly susceptible to infection.


METHODS
Water samples from electronic faucets and manual faucets were taken according to the French recommendations on water surveillance in healthcare settings.


METHODS
Hematology and intensive care units (ICUs) of a 900-bed university hospital and a 500-bed general hospital.


RESULTS
Overall 227 water samples were collected, 92 from electronic faucets and 135 from manual faucets. Thirty-six (39%) of the water samples from electronic faucets and 2 (1%) from manual faucets yielded pathogenic bacteria. In hematology wards 17 (30%) samples from electronic faucets and 2 (2%) from manual faucets were contaminated. In ICUs 19 (53%) samples from electronic faucets and none of 48 from manual faucets were contaminated. All samples were contaminated with various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8 to >100 CFU/100 ml). Despite hyperchlorination the electronic faucets remained contaminated. Replacing the contaminated electronic faucets by manual faucets led to a complete and sustained elimination of bacterial contamination. Contamination was not associated with a particular brand of electronic faucets.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that electronic faucets are significantly more frequently contaminated than manual faucets and could be a major reservoir for P. aeruginosa. Wards admitting patients highly susceptible to infection and using electronic faucets should be aware of this potential threat. Moreover, units already equipped with these devices, should check water quality periodically.
Merrer
Jacques
J
Unité d'Hygiène et de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales, Centre Hospitalier de Poissy/Saint Germain-en-Laye, 10 Rue du Champ Gaillard, 78300, Poissy, France, jmerrer@chi-poissy-st-germain.fr
Girou
Emmanuelle
E
Ducellier
David
D
Clavreul
Nicole
N
Cizeau
Florence
F
Legrand
Patrick
P
Leneveu
Michel
M
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004581:Electronics; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006405:Hematology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D014038:Toilet Facilities; D014871:Water Microbiology