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Published on: June 7, 2017
Simulated study to examine shower drain splash risks in healthcare from a multi-disciplinary team perspective: time
Carmen Nagy1, Cereus Harry1, Vicky Gentry1
1Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK.
Background:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge. Transmission pathways include wastewater contamination, yet shower drain splash risks remain underexplored.
Objective:
To investigate splash dispersal from shower drains in ensuite healthcare facilities and to assess implications for AMR transmission.
Methods:
Two ensuite facilities with differing shower pressures and dimensions were studied. Splash distances were measured using blue paper visualisation and fluorescent dye markers under ultraviolet (UV) light. In addition, an audit of shower usage rates and perspectives from the different multi-disciplinary groups of professionals involved in healthcare buildings and patients was collated.
Results:
Visible splash extended up to 196 cm, while fluorescent markers dispersed up to 350 cm, contaminating toilets, sinks, handrails, flush buttons, and emergency call strings.
Conclusion:
Shower drain splash can disperse contaminants widely, reaching high-touch surfaces. Professionals involved in healthcare facility design and with patient care share a unified perspective: there is an urgent need to address this often-overlooked transmission pathway to mitigate risks associated with AMR.
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