Abstract
BackgroundNon-touch fittings have been reported to be susceptible for Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulation. A number of factors may contribute to this, including the frequency of usage, duration of water stagnation, or presence of plastic materials. Programmable non-touch fittings are appearing which allow regular automated post-flushing with cold water to prevent water stagnation. However, the ideal duration of post-flushing is unknown as well as the effect of pre-rinsing with cold water before use.MethodsEight non-touch fittings with brass valve blocks were mounted on a mobile test sink and connected to the same central water pipe source, differing only in presence or absence of water connection pipes, length of connection pipe, frequency of usage, and time intervals for pre- and post-usage water flush. The total bacteria colony-forming unit (cfu) counts were obtained by the spread plate technique.ResultsLow frequency of water use in combination with a long stagnating water column resulted in high bacterial cfu counts. Post-usage flushing for 2 seconds did not differ from no flushing. Flushing for 10 seconds with cold water after use or 30 seconds flush before use were both the most effective measures to prevent non-touch fittings from biofilm formation over a period of 20 weeks.ConclusionFurther improvements in water fitting technology could possibly solve the problem of bacterial water contamination in health care settings.
Highlights
Non-touch fittings have been reported to be susceptible for Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulation.A number of factors may contribute to this, including the frequency of usage, duration of water stagnation, or presence of plastic materials
Flushing for 10 seconds with cold water after use or 30 seconds flush before use were both the most effective measures to prevent non-touch fittings from biofilm formation over a period of 20 weeks
Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been reported as having a significant health impact in hospitals and nursing homes, resulting in longer hospital stays and deaths [4]
Summary
Non-touch fittings have been reported to be susceptible for Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulation.A number of factors may contribute to this, including the frequency of usage, duration of water stagnation, or presence of plastic materials. Sensor-operated nontouch fittings have been increasingly used in hospitals, because of two aspects: from an infection control point to prevent or reduce contamination of hands after hand washing, and from an economic point to reduce up to 40% of water consumption by shortening the time of water flow. The latter aspect together with the technical requirement that waterlines and valves of most non-touch water fittings are made of plastic materials may promote a rapid bacterial accumulation [5], which is extremely difficult to eradicate once it has been established. Water fittings with brass valve blocks have not been studied so far
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