Prospective Sampling of Patient Bath Basins in an Acute Care Setting: Qualitative Evaluation of Bacterial Colonization

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hospital–acquired infections (HAIs) occur in 5% to 10% of patients annually and are the fifth leading cause of death in acute-care hospitals, with annual costs exceeding $6.5 billion. Potential sources of infection during patient bathing include hospital water supplies and skin of patients. Because mechanical friction during bathing releases skin flora into water, including potentially harmful pathogens, patient bath basins may be a potential etiology for HAIs. This nonrandomized, blinded, prospective study identified pathogens in patient bath basins to determine if they can be a source of bacterial colonization and increase patient risk for HAIs.