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It is true that hospitals are hotspots for diseases to thrive, owing to the presence of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. While patients are admitted there for treatment, hospitals are where many communicable diseases spread at a rapid pace. That is why they are specially sterilised for patient and visitor safety. But, some disturbing evidence has come to the fore about the presence and spread of drug-resistant bacteria.
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Earlier this week, a study declared that the risk of spread of a multidrug-resistant bacteria is highest in hospital sinks. According to reports, the findings are based on a 'multispecies outbreak' of superbug 'carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE)' that occurred in a paediatric ward at Toho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo in 2017.
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In a paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the study team stated the first case of CPE was seen in a one-year-old boy hospitalised with cardiac disease in June 2016. Then, in March 2017, a 15-year-old boy got infected with the 'deadly superbug'. Later, the outbreak reportedly spread to 19 paediatric patients; upon investigation it was found that nine sinks were contaminated with CPE. While six sinks were in hospital rooms with CPE-positive patients, three were from a nurse centre, a waste room, and an ice machine.
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The team of researchers found that despite 'replacing' all sinks in the pediatric ward with new ones that had been 'properly disinfected' with hydrogen peroxide, the CPE contamination persisted. In fact, 'DNA sequences' suggested the resistance mechanism may have been transferred from one bacterial species to another within the hospital.
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CPE are said to be bacteria (bugs) that live in the gut; they are a type of superbug. It means that they are resistant to many antibiotics; some antibiotics that were used to treat them no longer work.
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As mentioned earlier, CPE bugs are more common in hospitals. Interestingly, it has been found that CPE is harmless when it stays in the gut. But, it can be highly dangerous and become a serious infection if it gets into the bloodstream, the kidneys, bladder or body tissues.
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To prevent your exposure to the superbug and spreading CPE, clean your hands often, especially after going to the toilet and before eating. Do not share soap and razor. Keep the toilet rim and toilet seat clean. If you are in a hospital, limit contact with patients, stay away from their beds. If you see that the place is unclean, alert the staff immediately.
