Droplet rather than Aerosol Mediated Dispersion is the Primary Mechanism of Bacterial transmission from Contaminated Hand Washing Sink Traps.

Droplet rather than Aerosol Mediated Dispersion is the Primary Mechanism of Bacterial transmission from Contaminated Hand Washing Sink Traps. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2018 Oct 26;: Authors: Kotay S, Donlan RM, Ganim C, Barry K, Christensen BE, Mathers AJ Abstract An alarming rise in hospital outbreaks implicating hand-washing sinks has led to widespread acknowledgement that sinks are a major reservoir of antibiotic resistant pathogens in patient-care areas. An earlier study using a GFP-expressing Escherichia coli (GFP-E. coli) as a model organism demonstrated dispersal from drain biofilm in contaminated sinks. The present study further characterizes the dispersal of microorganisms from contaminated sinks. Replicate hand-washing sinks were inoculated with GFP-E. coli, and dispersion was measured using qualitative (settle plates) and quantitative (air sampling) methods. Dispersal caused by faucet water was captured with settle plates and air sampling methods when bacteria were present on the drain. In contrast, no dispersal was captured without or in between faucet events amending earlier theory that bacteria aerosolize from P-trap and disperse. Numbers of dispersed GFP-E. coli diminished substantially within 30 minutes after faucet usage, suggesting that the organisms were associated with larger droplet-sized particles that are not suspended in the air for long periods.IMPORTANCE Among the possible environmental reservoirs in a patient...
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Appl Environ Microbiol Source Type: research