TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of aerators on water contamination by emerging gram-negative opportunists in at-risk hospital departments
AU - Cristina, Maria Luisa
AU - Spagnolo, Anna Maria
AU - Casini, Beatrice
AU - Baggiani, Angelo
AU - Del Giudice, Pietro
AU - Brusaferro, Silvio
AU - Poscia, Andrea
AU - Moscato, Umberto
AU - Perdelli, Fernanda
AU - Orlando, Paolo
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objective. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of aerators on water microbiological contamination in at-risk hospital departments, with a view to quantifying the possible risk of patient exposure to waterborne microorganisms. Design. We analyzed the microbiological and chemical-physical characteristics of hot and cold water in some critical hospital departments. Setting. Two hospitals in northern Italy. Methods. We took 304 water samples over a 1-year period, at 3-month intervals, from taps used by healthcare personnel for handwashing, surgical washing, and the washing of medical equipment. We analyzed heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) at 36°C and 22°C, nonfastidious gram-negative bacteria (GNB-NE), and Legionella pneumophila. Results. The percentages of positivity and mean values of HPCs at 22°C, HPCs at 36°C, and GNB-NE loads were significantly higher at outlet points than in the plumbing system. In particular, GNB-NE positivity was higher at outlet points than in the plumbing system in both the cold water (31.58% vs 6.58% of samples were positive) and hot water (21.05% vs 3.95%) supplies. Our results also revealed contamination by L. pneumophila both in the plumbing system and at outlet points, with percentages of positive samples varying according to the serogroup examined (serogroups 1 and 2-14). The mean concentrations displayed statistically significant (P < .001) differences between the outlet points (27,382.89 ± 42,245.33 colony-forming units [cfu]/L) and the plumbing system (19,461.84 ± 29,982.11 cfu/L). Conclusions. These results reveal a high level of contamination of aerators by various species of gram-negative opportunists that are potentially very dangerous for immunocompromised patients and, therefore, the need to improve the management of these devices
AB - Objective. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of aerators on water microbiological contamination in at-risk hospital departments, with a view to quantifying the possible risk of patient exposure to waterborne microorganisms. Design. We analyzed the microbiological and chemical-physical characteristics of hot and cold water in some critical hospital departments. Setting. Two hospitals in northern Italy. Methods. We took 304 water samples over a 1-year period, at 3-month intervals, from taps used by healthcare personnel for handwashing, surgical washing, and the washing of medical equipment. We analyzed heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) at 36°C and 22°C, nonfastidious gram-negative bacteria (GNB-NE), and Legionella pneumophila. Results. The percentages of positivity and mean values of HPCs at 22°C, HPCs at 36°C, and GNB-NE loads were significantly higher at outlet points than in the plumbing system. In particular, GNB-NE positivity was higher at outlet points than in the plumbing system in both the cold water (31.58% vs 6.58% of samples were positive) and hot water (21.05% vs 3.95%) supplies. Our results also revealed contamination by L. pneumophila both in the plumbing system and at outlet points, with percentages of positive samples varying according to the serogroup examined (serogroups 1 and 2-14). The mean concentrations displayed statistically significant (P < .001) differences between the outlet points (27,382.89 ± 42,245.33 colony-forming units [cfu]/L) and the plumbing system (19,461.84 ± 29,982.11 cfu/L). Conclusions. These results reveal a high level of contamination of aerators by various species of gram-negative opportunists that are potentially very dangerous for immunocompromised patients and, therefore, the need to improve the management of these devices
KW - hospital infection
KW - waterborne pathogens
KW - hospital infection
KW - waterborne pathogens
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/53004
U2 - 10.1086/674863
DO - 10.1086/674863
M3 - Article
SN - 0899-823X
VL - Vol. 35
SP - 121
EP - 129
JO - Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
JF - Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
ER -