Hands free, high-tech faucets seem like a good idea because they reduce water consumption and operate without anyone touching the spigots. That’s why hospitals have been installing hands-free faucets to reduce bacterial contamination from the taps. A study from Johns Hopkins Hospital, however, suggests that the new-fangled faucets may backfire.
The infection control team found that half of the water samples from automated electronic-eye devices were contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Only 15 percent of the samples from old-fashioned manual faucets were contaminated. The investigators believe that the complicated valve system required to operate a hands-free device may make it harder to disinfect. That could allow Legionella and other dangerous bacteria to flourish.
[Johns Hopkins Medicine, March 28, 2011]
The People's Perspective on Medicine