If you’re at home recovering or simply want to avoid getting sick, don’t take your bathroom sink for granted. It may be the source of an infection that leads to hospitalization.
A Flinders University study compared domestic sinks with those in hospitals to assess infection risks and contamination pathways.
Home sinks have been found to be “hot spots for dangerous microbes” and other pathogens that could be the cause of pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease and wound infections.
“This research shows that sinks may play a significant and under-appreciated role in healthcare-associated infections,” said Associate Professor Harriet Whiley, from the College of Science and Engineering and the ARC Training Center for Biofilm Research and Innovation.
Worryingly, more Legionella bacteria, which cause Legionnaires’ disease, have been found in domestic basins than in hospitals.
Legionella bacteria are found in natural bodies of water, spas, hot water systems, soils and air conditioning systems.
A system that used water for cooling was recently linked to a large outbreak in Melbourne, affecting nearly 90 people and causing two deaths.
