- Researchers analyzed microbes living in biofilms in hospital and home sinks
- They found bugs that can cause illnesses, including pneumonia.
It is often considered one of the cleanest places in the house.
But a new study might have you scrubbing that sink extra hard this weekend.
Researchers at Flinders University have warned that toilets are “hot spots” for dangerous microbes.
Unfortunately, this includes insects that can cause diseases such as pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease, and wound infections.
And your sink isn’t the only place you need to worry, as the study comes shortly after research revealed that radiation-resistant microbes can reproduce inside microwaves.
It’s often thought of as one of the cleanest places in the house, but a new study might have you scrubbing the sink extra hard this weekend (file image)
Researchers at Flinders University have warned that toilets are “hotbeds” of dangerous microbes. Unfortunately, these include bacteria that can cause illnesses such as pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease and wound infections.
Previous studies have discovered microbes living in a variety of strange and wonderful habitats, including marine oil spills, abandoned industrial sites and even inside the International Space Station.
But until now it was unclear which germs could be infected in toilets.
To get to the bottom of this issue, researchers analysed the “biofilms” present inside toilets located in both hospitals and nursing homes.
A biofilm is a slimy substance found in drains and around sink faucets.
Their analysis discovered microbes living inside biofilms that can cause pneumonia, Legionnaires’ disease and wound infections.
Researchers analysed the “biofilms” found inside sinks in both hospitals and nursing homes. A biofilm is the slimy substance found in drains and around the taps of sinks (archive image)
“In both environments we found a high abundance of pathogens and corrosives, including some that are not normally present in water,” said Claire Hayward, lead author of the study.
Researchers suggest that these pathogens are likely transferred to the biofilm from people using the sink to wash their hands, from the incoming water supply, or through biological waste.
Although you might think that hospital sinks would harbor more germs, surprisingly this was not the case.
“Residential washrooms have a more diverse bacterial community present in biofilms than hospitals,” said study author Dr. Harriet Whiley.
‘A higher amount of Legionella bacteria was also detected in residential samples compared to those taken in hospitals.’
According to the team, hospital sinks are likely to be cleaned more frequently and more thoroughly than sinks in homes.
Ms Hayward added: ‘The difference in the diversity of microbial communities could be due to more regular cleaning, use and design of washbasins in hospitals through to the implementation of infection control practices in healthcare.
‘This poses a risk to patients receiving home health care, which has emerged as an alternative to lengthy hospital stays to reduce the burden on the health care system.’
Based on the results, researchers urge people to thoroughly clean their sinks regularly.
“Patients receiving home health care should be informed about infection control practices, such as cleaning drains and sinks with effective disinfectants,” Ms. Hayward concluded.