The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to identify and quantify bacteria in patient bath basins in intesive care units (ICUs) and to evaluate the potential for the bath basin as a source for bacterial colonization and risk for health care–associated infection. Three different hospitals were used and a total of 93 disposable bath basins from 3 ICUs were cultured using sterile techniques. The bath basins were tested at least 2 hours after patient bathing, after the bath water had been emptied, and after the basins had been allowed to dry. An off-site microbiological testing laboratory was used to conduct the culture analysis. The results revealed that the bath basins were a source for bacterial growth for a number of organisms, including Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Escherichia coli.

Debra Johnson, rn, bsn, ocn, cic...

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