Scrub sink contamination and transmission to operating room personnel

Abstract

Multiple studies have established the contamination of hospital sinks and transmission to hospital personnel. Few studies have assessed the contamination and transmission of microorganisms from the faucets of operating bay scrub sinks to operating room (OR) personnel, a potential route of infection for patients. This study aimed to investigate if there was pathogenic contamination of scrub sinks and possible transmission of those pathogens to the hands of OR personnel after preoperative hand disinfection. Swabs were taken from the hands of 50 OR personnel and from the faucets of 24 scrubs sinks at two different hospital sites, and were cultured. Hands were swabbed after completing a surgical hand scrub. Results were reported in colony-forming units per millilitre. There was significant scrub sink contamination with primarily Gram-negative organisms, such as Delftia acidovorans and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. There was no overlap in bacterial species between the cultures from hands and scrub sinks. Cultures from the sinks and the hands of the OR personnel from one site had significantly higher bacterial growth compared with the other site (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0118, respectively). The data showed significant contamination on the faucets of operating bay scrub sinks. However, there was no observed transmission of pathogens from the scrub sinks to OR personnel, shown by the lack of overlap in bacterial species. Routine hygienic maintenance of scrub sinks is recommended.

Keywords: Contamination in operating bay; environmental contaminants; operating room personnel; preoperative hand disinfection; scrub sink.