Hospital Water Taps Contaminated with Bacteria
Additional research needed to uncover how water contamination threatens patient safety
CHICAGO (January 20, 2014) – New research finds significantly higher levels of infectious pathogens in water from faucet taps with aerators compared to water from deeper in the plumbing system. Contaminated water poses an increased risk for infection in immunocompromised patients. The study was published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
“Aerators are a potential reservoir for drug-resistant bacteria and a source of infection for patients at risk,” said Maria Luisa Cristina, PhD, a lead author of the study. “Safe water is vital to ensuring patient safety where waterborne infections increase morbidity, mortality, treatment costs, compensation claims and prolong hospital stays.”
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