Study finds superbug bacteria survive despite rigorous hospital drain cleaning.

A recent study revealed that even after thorough cleaning, hospital sink drains can harbor dangerous bacteria linked to an increase in health-care-associated infections (HAIs). These infections, which disproportionately affect immunocompromised patients and stem from inadequate hygiene practices in some hospitals, are a significant global issue consuming around 6% of hospital budgets. Additionally, the widespread use of antibiotics plays a role in fostering resistant bacterial strains that can spread between species, potentially causing new diseases. Dr. Margarita Gomila, a Professor at the University of the Balearic Islands, highlighted the surprising finding that bacterial populations in hospital sink drains evolve despite strict cleaning measures.

The study, published in Frontiers in Microbiology, emphasizes the global challenge of controlling bacterial growth in drains to prevent colonization by new strains. Researchers focused on sink drains in a modern university hospital on the island of Majorca, built in 2001 and managed by the health service of the Balearic Islands. Despite regular cleaning and disinfection with bleach, chemicals, and steam, a variety of 67 species were identified in the drains, with the highest diversity in general medicine and intensive care units.

The newly opened intensive care unit displayed a high bacterial diversity, with dominant Stenotrophomonas species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa known for causing pneumonia and sepsis. About 16 other Pseudomonas species, flagged by WHO as a significant antibiotic resistance threat, were also found. The short-stay ward had a particularly high presence of these species.

Repeated hospital-associated pathogens include Klebsiella pneumoniae in general medicine, Acinetobacter johnsonii and Acinetobacter ursingii in general medicine and intensive care, Enterobacter mori and Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii in short-stay ward, and Staphylococcus aureus in intensive care and haematology. Research highlights the importance of investigating the origin and transmission routes of bacteria in hospital drains, some of which are highly resistant to antibiotics.

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