Work

Semi-continuous disinfection of sinks with UVC on a haematology-oncology department for prevention of nosocomial infections

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Patients with haematological and oncological diseases face a high risk of infections due to immunosuppression. Recent studies have highlighted the role of sinks as possible reservoirs for the transmission of multi-drug-resistant micro-organisms to patients. Due to biofilm formation, the sinks are difficult to clean and disinfect. This intervention study evaluated the effect of an ultraviolet-C (UVC) self-disinfecting siphon in a haematology-oncology ward on bacterial load in stagnant water in the siphon, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive drainpipes and positive patient cultures. Weekly water and drain samples were collected for 31 weeks (7 weeks pre-intervention and 24 weeks postintervention). CLARA UVC siphons were installed in 13 patient rooms (28 sinks), while two control groups had either new standard siphons installed (3 rooms, 7 sinks) or no siphon replacement (3 rooms, 7 sinks). Binary logistic regression model on high-low colony count of siphon water showed that, compared with no intervention (UVC0), there was a positive effect of sink replacement (replacement with standard siphon [UVC-], odds ratio [OR]: 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-2.56), but replacement by the UVC siphon had a larger effect (replacement with CLARA UVC siphon [UVC+], OR: 4.01; 95% CI: 2.23-9.23). No (positive) effect was found on ESBL-positive drainpipes and patient colonization. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that UVC disinfection of stagnant water in siphons is effective in reducing the bacterial load, but no effect on drainpipes and patient colonization could be demonstrated.

Source: Journal of Hospital Infection

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2026.03.033