Focus: Infection Control

Dealing with the problem of dirty sinks

How clean can your washed hands really be if the sink is contaminated?


The topic of slime and biofilm in hospital sinks has become a prominent topic in discussions of environmental contamination, according to an article on the Contagion Live website.

There have been studies that identified sink proximity to toilets as a risk. Researchers found that sinks near toilets were  four times more likely to host pathogens than those further from toilets. 

Researchers have also found that sinks with a more shallow depth tended to allow higher rates of contamination of patient care areas.

Infection prevention is having to look harder at hospital faucets and sinks for their role in hosting microbial growth. How can your washed hands really be if the sink is contaminated?

Read the article.



January 21, 2020


Topic Area: Infection Control


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