Hospital faucets can harbor slime and biofilm

Water splashing out of a sink can spread contaminants


Water splashing out of a hospital sink can spread contaminants from dirty faucets according to an article on the Infection Control Today website

New research from the University of Michigan Health System assessed eight different designs across four intensive care units to determine how dirty sinks and faucets are.

The study found that a shallow depth of the sink bowl enabled potentially contaminated water to splash onto areas as far as more than four feet from the sink itself.  

The researchers suggested a design improvement program that included sink guards, which were shown to limit splash significantly.

Read the article.



June 21, 2019


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Grounding Healthcare Spaces in Hospitality Principles

Thoughtful design can establish the calm of a spa and the restorative feeling of a resort in healthcare spaces, bringing benefits for patients and care providers.


UC Davis Health Selects Rudolph and Sletten for Central Utility Plant Expansion

Work is already underway with substantial completion anticipated in the fall of 2027.


Cape Cod Healthcare Opens Upper 2 Floors of Edwin Barbey Patient Care Pavilion

The first two floors opened for patients in May 2025 and house the Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center.


Building Sustainable Healthcare for an Aging Population

Traditional responses — building more primary and secondary care facilities — are no longer sustainable.


Froedtert ThedaCare Announces Opening of ThedaCare Medical Center-Oshkosh

The organization broke ground on the health campus in March 2024.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.