Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
Temperature-programmed Deoxygenation of Acetic Acid on Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts
Published on: February 7, 2017
Acetic acid as a decontamination method for ICU sink drains colonized by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae
D Smolders1, B Hendriks2, P Rogiers2
1Department of Microbiology, Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
Background:
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are emerging pathogens representing a major concern for public health. In Belgium, the OXA-48 carbapenemase resistance gene is identified most frequently. Sink drains in intensive care units (ICUs) are known to be colonized by Gram-negative bacilli. A correlation between environmental contamination and CPE infections in ICUs has been established. A long-term CPE epidemic in a local ICU proved difficult to control.
Methods And Results:
A variety of CPE strains, all carrying the OXA-48 resistance gene, were isolated from almost all sinks in patient rooms in the ICU. Decontamination of the sinks with 250 mL 25% acetic acid three times weekly was implemented. Sink drain colonization was followed up for six months thereafter. Both the number of CPE-colonized sinks and the number of patients colonized or infected with CPE decreased drastically, to the extent that the epidemic was considered to be eradicated. In-vitro growth of all isolates was inhibited by a concentration of acetic acid equal to or smaller than that used for decontamination. Epidemiological analysis demonstrated a positive and significant relationship between contaminated sinks and CPE acquisition of patients admitted to ICU rooms, indicating the importance of contaminated sinks as the environmental reservoir of the epidemic.
Conclusion:
Decontamination of sink drains with acetic acid is a valuable alternative to other methods, such as heated sinks and water-free care, especially when other options are not feasible in the short term. Acetic acid is cheap, widely available, effective and manageable from a safety and technical point of view.
Insights
Acetic acid effectively decontaminated sink drains in intensive care units (ICUs), eradicating carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and preventing patient infections. This simple method offers a viable solution for controlling CPE outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are a significant public health threat, with OXA-48 carbapenemase being prevalent in Belgium.
- Sink drains in intensive care units (ICUs) are known reservoirs for Gram-negative bacilli, and environmental contamination is linked to CPE infections.
- A persistent CPE epidemic in an ICU was challenging to control through conventional methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of acetic acid in decontaminating sink drains and controlling a CPE epidemic in an ICU.
- To investigate the role of sink drains as an environmental reservoir for CPE transmission.
Main Methods:
- Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) strains carrying the OXA-48 gene were isolated from ICU sink drains.
- Sink drains were decontaminated using 250 mL of 25% acetic acid three times weekly for six months.
- In-vitro susceptibility testing of CPE isolates to acetic acid was performed.
Main Results:
- CPE strains were isolated from most patient room sinks in the ICU.
- Following decontamination, the number of colonized sinks and CPE cases in patients significantly decreased, leading to epidemic eradication.
- Acetic acid effectively inhibited the in-vitro growth of all CPE isolates at concentrations used for decontamination.
- A strong correlation was found between sink contamination and patient CPE acquisition, highlighting sinks as a key environmental reservoir.
Conclusions:
- Sink drain decontamination with acetic acid is an effective and practical alternative for controlling CPE.
- Acetic acid is cost-effective, readily available, safe, and technically manageable.
- This intervention successfully eradicated a long-term CPE epidemic in an ICU setting.
Related Concept Videos
02:22The Colonization of Land
02:54Ions as Acids and Bases
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
04:02Weak Acid Solutions
02:58Bronsted-Lowry Acids and Bases
02:36The Citric Acid Cycle
03:55Titration Calculations: Weak Acid - Strong Base
For the titration of 25.00 mL of 0.100 M CH3CO2H with 0.100 M NaOH, the reaction can be represented as: