The sink splash zone.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important nosocomial pathogen that commonly colonizes hospital water supplies, including taps and sinks [ [1] Garvey M.I. Bradley C.W. Tracey J. Oppenheim B. Continued transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a wash hand basin tap in a critical care unit. J Hosp Infect. 2016; 94: 8-12 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar ]. It has been reported previously that water outlets are the most likely source of P. aeruginosa nosocomial infections in an adult intensive care unit (ICU) [ [2] Halstead F.D. Quick J. Niebel M. Garvey M. Cumley N. Smith R. et al. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in augmented care area: the molecular ecology and transmission dynamics in four large UK hospitals. J Hosp Infect. 2021; 111: 162-168 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar ], and it has been described how widespread introduction of control measures, both human factors and engineering solutions, can reduce infections [ [3] Garvey M.I. Bradley C.W. Wilkinson M.A. Bradley C.R. Holden E. Engineering waterborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa out of a critical care unit. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2017; 220: 1014-1019 Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar , [4] Garvey M.I. Wilkinson M.A.C. Holden K.L. Martin T. Parkes J. Holden E. Tap out: reducing waterborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa transmission in an intensive care unit. J Hosp Infect. 2019; 102: 75-81 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (12) Google Scholar ]. Joung et al. demonstrated how water droplets can release aerosols [ [5] Joung Y.S. Ge Z. Buie C.R. Bioaerosol generation of raindrops on soil. Nat Comms. 2017; 814668 Crossref Scopus (147) Google Scholar ]. Similarly, Estrada-Perez et al. showed the extent of dispersal of water droplets when showering [ [6] Estrada-Perez C.E. Kinney K.A. Maestre J.P. Hassan Y.A. King M.D. Droplet distribution and airborne bacteria in an experimental shower unit. Water Res. 2018; 130: 47-57 Crossref PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar ]. Stevens et al. demonstrated that a wide range of waterborne pathogens can result in infections [ [7] Stevens M. Evans G. Wilcox M. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children case note review overview report. 2021https://www.gov.scot/news/qeuh-case-note-review-and-oversight-board-report/#:∼:text=The%20independent%20Case%20Note%20Review,the%20Royal%20Hospital%20for%20Children Google Scholar ]. Hence, there is a theoretical risk of water droplets harbouring waterborne pathogens contaminating surrounding areas, leading to transmission. This study examined splashing from water outlets on an ICU, and undertook an unannounced audit to determine which items were located within 2 m of a sink (‘splash zone’).