Longitudinal Assessment of Residential Sink Microbiomes
Hospital sink drains are known reservoirs for multidrug-resistant pathogens, where biofilm formation enables persistence and potential transmission to patients and healthcare workers. However, critical knowledge gaps remain in understanding how these microbial risk dynamics translate to residential built environments. Our study presents the longest, continual characterization of bacterial communities from residential sinks. To quantify community stability and predictive modeling potential, p-trap samples were collected every day for 60 days over a from two sinks in a shared bathroom that are used by different occupants. Therefore, sinks represent differential usage patterns and individual exposures, while maintaining shared characteristics: e.g., cleaning frequency, cleaning products used, and environmental parameters.