Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak linked to sink drainage design
Moi Lin Ling A B and Kue Bien How AA Infection Control, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608.
B Corresponding author. Email: ling.moi.lin@sgh.com.sg
Healthcare Infection 18(4) 143-146 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI13015
Submitted: 4 April 2013 Accepted: 17 June 2013 Published: 9 July 2013
Abstract
Background: This paper describes an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAE) that occurred in a haematology ward between 8 January and 24 March 2009. Four patients had healthcare-associated infections due to PAE which was recovered in the groin, blood and perianal tissue.
Aim: This report highlights the risks associated with the use of sinks and outlines the approach used to manage the outbreak.
Methods: Subsequent investigations showed that a contaminated sink drainage system represented the possible source of spread. Of a total of 21 environmental samples taken, two samples from the sink drainage system showed a similar susceptibility pattern as the patients involved in the outbreak. Four cycles of disinfection of the sink drainage systems were attempted with various modalities.
Findings: PAE contamination of the sink drains at the multiple grooves in the drains proved difficult to disinfect adequately, despite using several cleaning protocols. The outbreak was finally terminated following a change in the sink drainage system to one without grooves, hence preventing any further PAE colonisation.
Conclusion: Our experience demonstrated that the design of the sink drainage system may be a potential source of PAE contamination for an immunocompromised patient.
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