Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections due to electronic faucets in a neonatal intensive care unit

To evaluate the role of electronic faucets in a newborn intensive care unit during a Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak.

After three patients had P. aeruginosa bacteremia, environmental cultures including those from patient rooms, incubator, ventilators, total parenteral nutrition solutions, disinfection solutions, electronic and hand-operated faucet filters/water samples after removing filters and staff hands were taken.

Only filters of electronic faucets and water samples after removing filters and one liquid hand soap showed P. aeruginosa (3-7 × 106 cfu/mL). We have removed the electronic faucets and new elbow-operated faucets were installed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of outbreak-blood culture isolates from two patients and isolates from electronic water faucets/one liquid hand soap indicated the presence of 90.7% genetically related subtype, probably from the same clone. Water cultures from new faucets were all clean after installation and after 7 months.

We suggest that electronic faucets may be considered a potential risk for P. aeruginosa in hospitals, especially in high-risk units.