Pathogenic Bacteria Rapidly Colonise Sinks of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Results of A Prospective Surveillance Study.

Abstract

Background: Hospital sinks are known to harbour bacteria with the potential to infect patients.

Aim: To examine bacterial growth in the sinks of a newly constructed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during the transition from an established NICU within the same facility.

Methods: This was a prospective study of pathogenic bacterial growth in NICU handwashing sinks before and after the new NICU was occupied. Samples from various sink traps were cultured longitudinally and comparison was made between an established NICU and the new NICU.

Findings: Potentially pathogenic bacteria rapidly colonised sinks in the new NICU within a month of occupation of the unit. During the study period, between 29 June 2021 and 2 September 2022, 62 samples were collected from 11 sinks, of which 43 (69.4%) tested positive. The mean semi-quantitative bacterial growth score was notably higher in the milk preparation room sink than in the patient care area sinks within the new NICU (40.67 vs. 1.768; p = 0.025). The bacterial profiles in the new milk preparation room sink mirrored that of the established NICU with a predominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae complex. In handwashing sinks of both established and new NICUs, the dominant colonizing pathogens were Burkholderia cepacia complex, followed by Serratia marcescens and Elizabethkingia species. Cessation of sink use significantly reduced the bioburden of bacteria in the NICU handwashing sink drains.

Conclusion: Handwashing sinks were rapidly colonised with pathogenic bacteria in a newly constructed NICU. More diversified and prolific growth of pathogenic bacteria was noted in the milk preparation room sinks.