Hospital Bathrooms Found to be Hotbeds of Bacteria and Fungi
New Research Highlights Concerns about Cleanliness
New research is sounding the alarm about the cleanliness of hospital bathrooms. A study presented at a conference for clinical microbiology and infectious diseases specialists has found several strains of drug-resistant bacteria and fungi on the floors, ceilings, door handles, and toilet surfaces of bathrooms in three major hospitals in Scotland.
Contamination Levels Vary by Bathroom Type
The study found that gender-neutral toilets (including those for people with disabilities) were the most contaminated, while women’s bathrooms contained fewer microbes than men’s bathrooms. "The move to convert traditional male and female facilities to unisex facilities in some hospitals raises concern that people might be exposed to higher risks of contamination," said study author Stephanie Dancer, a consultant microbiologist at NHS Lanarkshire in the UK.
Study Methods
The study collected 480 samples from six types of bathrooms – male staff, female staff, male patient, female patient, disabled, and unisex – in each of the three hospitals. Hand-touch surfaces (toilet flush, handrail, tap, door handle), floors, and higher-up sites (door tops, shelves, air vents) were swabbed more than four hours after they were cleaned.
Pathogens Found
The team found bacteria known to cause infections of the bloodstream, urinary tract, chest, and other parts of the body, among other pathogens. Female staff toilets had the fewest microbes of all the toilet types. Drug-resistant bacteria were concentrated in male and female patient toilets, though female toilets fared better.
Recommendations
Dancer’s recommendations for hospital bathrooms include having lids for toilets that should be closed before flushing; adding windows, so fresh air can circulate; offering more education on hand washing; and retaining single-sex toilets. "Based on this study’s findings, I don’t believe we should be abandoning single-sex toilets in favor of unisex toilets, since these toilets had the highest microbial burden overall," Dancer concluded.
Concerning Findings
Alarmingly, pathogens such as E. coli were as likely to be found on air vents, ceilings, and the tops of doors as on floors. "We think that the only logical explanation for this is that toilet flushing aerosolizes whatever is in the toilet bowl, whereupon tiny water particles carrying these organisms fly up to the ceiling and contaminate high sites," Dancer said.
Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection protocols in hospital bathrooms to prevent the spread of pathogens. It also underscores the need for education on hand washing and the potential risks associated with unisex toilets.
FAQs
Q: What was the purpose of the study?
A: The study aimed to investigate the cleanliness of hospital bathrooms and the types of pathogens present.
Q: What types of bathrooms were studied?
A: The study included six types of bathrooms – male staff, female staff, male patient, female patient, disabled, and unisex – in each of the three hospitals.
Q: What was the most contaminated type of bathroom?
A: Gender-neutral toilets (including those for people with disabilities) were the most contaminated.
Q: What were the recommendations for improving hospital bathroom cleanliness?
A: The study author recommended having lids for toilets, adding windows, offering more education on hand washing, and retaining single-sex toilets.
