From a microbiological point of view, what’s happening beyond the sink drain has proven to be of considerable importance. A recent study has identified that not only can hospital waste traps such as U-bends pose a significant risk of infection, but that the systematic disinfecting and cleaning of such could minimize the risk of infection caused by microbial cross contamination (1). The waste trap environment can harbour bacterial pathogens that aren’t to be taken lightly, including the so-called superbugs that are demonstrating resistance to antibiotics. This means that sinks used by people in hospital environments, for example hospital staff or patients, may be at risk of acquiring these bacteria by being contaminated with water from the plumbing waste fittings beneath the sink. Repeated outbreaks of bacterial infections in hospitals have been traced to contaminated U-bends, indicating that this unseen environment is a suitable reservoir of bacterial pathogens that are highly mobile from the fitting to the open sink.
The study rightly recognises the need for systematic cleaning of the U-bend and associated pipeline as a solution to reducing the risk of cross contamination and associated infections. One might ask, isn’t this simply a question of cleaning the U-bend and associated pipework? Decontamination of these components is certainly desirable from a public health perspective but cleaning or even refitting U-bends and pipes is inconvenient and costs money. And of course, it’s only a matter of time before the bacteria have reappeared after the cleaning and the microbiological end state is as bad as the beginning. Detergents are an option but again, the effect is transient and there is the additional issue of release of cleaning chemicals in effluent and downstream wastewater treatment plants, creating an environmental concern to be factored in.
So, what about making the waste fittings and pipes antimicrobial? Fitting a BioCote® protected waste trap that consistently acts to prevent the accumulation of bacteria in the U-bend environment, including those capable of causing human health seems like a sensible idea. What’s more, it’s already a viable solution. Polypipe Building Products manufacture an antimicrobial waste trap and wastewater pipe system for sinks for this very reason. The Polypipe waste trap doesn’t rely on harsh cleaning disinfectants and isn’t visibly or mechanically distinct from the standard part. In the laboratory, the protected waste fittings and pipes have been shown to be highly effective at killing bacteria and the decontamination effect in situ will be continuous.
Paul Jackson, Product Manager for Above Ground Drainage products at Polypipe, says:
“When we started on our journey of adding anti-microbial technology into our traps and other waste products, our main objective was to offer a product that could kill 99.99% of all bacteria that comes into contact with the product.
What we did discover as we understood the technology better was that it could also reduce smells and blockages in traps and waste systems over time. This was a great discovery for us and one that will benefit our customers for the life of the product.
We are really excited to be offering Anti-microbial technology in our waste products. There are real, valuable benefits for clinical settings and home owners alike.”
It is certainly worth exploring a U-bend that is constantly reducing the number of bacteria on its surface as a perfect complement to a comprehensive cleaning regime in the efforts to achieve optimum hygiene and reduce the risk of cross contamination.
Article written alongside Biocote.