Intensive Cleaning Fails to Eliminate Superbug Bacteria in Hospital Drains: Research

Synopsis

A study reveals that intensive cleaning in hospitals is insufficient to eradicate harmful bacteria from sink drains, contributing to a rise in health-care-associated infections (HAIs). This persistent issue impacts patients with weakened immune systems and poses a global health challenge.

Key Takeaways

HAIs are on the rise due to bacteria in drains.
Intensive cleaning protocols may not be sufficient.
Some bacteria exhibit strong antibiotic resistance.
Research highlights the need for better hygiene practices.
Bacterial diversity in drains poses a significant health risk.

New Delhi, Feb 14 (NationPress) Despite intensive cleaning efforts, hazardous bacteria are found in hospital sink drains, contributing to an increase in health-care-associated infections (HAI), as revealed by a recent study on Friday.

HAIs predominantly affect patients with compromised immune systems and are exacerbated in some hospitals by inadequate adherence to hygiene protocols. This issue has escalated into a significant global concern, consuming approximately 6 percent of worldwide hospital budgets, according to the findings.

The extensive use of antibiotics further complicates the situation by fostering resilient, resistant strains of bacteria. When resistance genes are located on mobile genetic elements, they can transfer between bacterial species, potentially resulting in new diseases.

"Our research demonstrates that hospital sink drains host bacterial communities that evolve over time, despite strict cleaning protocols at the facility we examined," stated Dr. Margarita Gomila, a Professor at the University of the Balearic Islands in Spain.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, emphasizes that managing bacterial growth in drains and deterring the colonization of new strains in these hard-to-disinfect areas represents a likely global challenge.

The research team concentrated on the sink drains of a modern university hospital located on the island of Majorca, established in 2001 and operated by the health service of the Balearic Islands.

They found that the sinks and drains undergo routine cleaning with bleach, alongside disinfection with chemicals and pressurized steam every two weeks, or monthly in non-patient areas. Additionally, the drainpipes receive hyperchlorination annually at low temperatures.

Despite these measures, they identified 67 different species within the drains. The highest diversity was observed in general medicine and intensive care units, with the lowest diversity found in the microbiology lab.

The newly launched intensive care unit also exhibited a significant level of bacterial diversity, with six Stenotrophomonas species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa—known for causing ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis—being prevalent across various wards.

Additionally, around 16 other Pseudomonas species, which the WHO has identified as one of the most severe threats to human health due to antibiotic resistance, were detected intermittently in different wards, particularly in the short-stay unit, according to the research team.

Other infamous hospital-associated pathogens frequently found include Klebsiella pneumoniae in the general medicine ward, Acinetobacter johnsonii and Acinetobacter ursingii in both general medicine and intensive care, Enterobacter mori and Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii in the short-stay ward, and Staphylococcus aureus in intensive care and hematology.

The researchers pointed out that since hospital drains may act as reservoirs for both established and emerging pathogens, many of which exhibit significant antibiotic resistance, it is crucial to investigate the origins of these bacteria and their pathways of transmission.