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State regulation of hospital water temperature
A S Mandel1, M A Sprauer, D H Sniadack
1Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5120.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine current regulations and policies in the United States concerning maximal water temperatures in acute care hospitals.
Design:
A standardized questionnaire administered by telephone to health department officials from 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Setting:
State Health Departments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Results:
All states responded to the survey. Respondents from 39 states (77%) reported regulating maximum allowable hospital water temperature at a mean of 116 degrees F (median, 120 degrees F; mode 110 degrees F; range, 110 degrees F to 129 degrees F). Twelve states (23%) have no regulations for maximum water temperature. Of the 39 states regulating maximum water temperature, 30 (77%) routinely monitor hospital compliance. Nine states (23%) conduct inspections only in response to a complaint or incident.
Conclusions:
There is great variation among the states with respect to the existence, enforcement, and specific regulations controlling hospital water temperature. Risk-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses would help to assess the risk of scald injuries at water temperatures that will inhibit microbial contamination.