Hopkins researchers discovered Legionella bacteria growing in half the cultured water samples from 20 electronic-eye faucets in or near patient rooms. The bacteria was only found in 15 percent of water cultures from 20 traditional manual faucets in the same patient care areas.
They also found half the amount of bacterial growth of any kind in the manual faucets, compared to the manual models.
The study results were so alarming Hopkins administrators removed the new faucets and replaced them with the manual types with separate hot and cold. And the hospital decided to use traditional fixtures for all of the patient care areas in new clinical buildings being constructed on the East Baltimore campus. That amounts to 1080 faucets.
Legionella bacteria is the cause of Legionnatire's disease, a dangerous respiratory ailment.
The researchers haven't determined the exact reasons for the bacterial growth in the electronic faucets, but they believe the problem is in the complex valves of the electronic faucets. They suspect the valves offer more surfaces for bacteria to become trapped and grow.
The original goal of the study was to test the electronic faucets to see how often and for how long treated water needed to be flushed through them to keep Legionella and other bacteria at nearly undetectable levels. They were so surprised by the results their study took off in a whole different direction.
