Hospital sinks spread drug-resistant superbugs, new study finds

A study found that hospital sinks are the most likely source for spreading drug-resistant bacteria. The research wasbased on a superbug outbreak in a pediatric ward at the Toho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo in 2017. The first case of the superbug was detected in a one-year-old boy hospitalised for heart disease in June 2016.

In March 2017, nine months later, a 15-year-old boy became the second personto contract the dangeroussuperbug.

Following this, the outbreak extended to affect 19 pediatric patients. Upon investigation, it was discovered that nine sinks were contaminated with CPE. Among these, six were located in hospital rooms with CPE-positive patients, while the remaining three were found in a nurse centre, a waste room, and an ice machine.

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Genomic analysis found outthe presence of bacterial strains such as "Klebsiella variicola, Klebsiella quasipneumoniae, and Escherichia coli."

Despite replacing all sinks in the pediatric ward with new ones properly disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, CPE contamination persisted, the team found.

Moreover, DNA sequences suggested that the resistance mechanism might have been transferred from one bacterial species to another within the hospital.

The team noted, "The discovery of the same bacterial species in sinks in adjoining rooms indicates that pathogen transmission may be possible from one sink to another via the drains and connected plumbing."

What were the preventive measures in place?

To mitigate further spread, preventive measures were put in place, including recommending hand disinfection after sink use, introducing disposable cleaning tools, prohibiting mouth-washing with sink water, and enacting disinfection and drying protocols for sink-exposed items.

The outbreak was finally contained in October 2017 after months of intensive infection control measures.

Associate Professor Sadako Yoshizawa, from Toho University's Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, as quoted by IANS said, "Our experience highlights the importance of focusing on sinks and other water-related areas in hospital wards, as these are critical for CPE transmission and therefore major fronts in the fight against antibiotic resistance."

(With inputs fromagencies)