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Why Hands-Free Faucets May Be a Risk to Some Hospital Patients | Health | Learning English/*
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RSS FeedWhy Hands-Free Faucets May Be a Risk to Some Hospital Patients??05 April 2011
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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
Automatic faucets use an electronic sensor to start and stop the flow of water when people wash their hands. These faucets save a lot of water, which is one reason they are found in busy public bathrooms. Another reason is because of concerns about the spread of infection by people touching the handles on traditional faucets.
Hospitals started using automatic faucets about ten years ago. But a new study at one hospital finds that these devices may not always be worth the savings in water use.
Researcher took apart twenty automatic faucets at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. They found that half contained Legionella bacteria, compared to fifteen percent of manual faucets.
Healthy people rarely get sick from the bacteria. So the study should not concern most users of automatic faucets in public bathrooms.
But Legionella bacteria can cause a form of pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems. These include patients with diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS, and those who have recently had an organ transplant.
After their first tests, the researchers cleaned the water system with chlorine dioxide. But they found that twenty-nine percent of the automatic faucets were still contaminated with bacteria. That compared to seven percent of the manual faucets.
The researchers have some theories. Dr. Emily Sydnor says the automatic faucets contain more parts, so there are more areas where bacteria could grow. Also, the reduced water pressure in low-flow faucets might not remove as much bacteria from surfaces.
EMILY SYDNOR: "We think that, one, the pieces and the parts inside are sort of providing places and surface area for bacteria to get trapped and probably promoting something called bio-film formation, which is essentially just a colony of bacteria that can sort of coexist in a little slime and a little, almost a little colony of it that it’s hard to get rid of. And that, combined with the low water flow, is probably promoting the growth."
Six other studies have also found higher amounts of bacteria in automatic faucets. The latest study was presented Saturday at a meeting of the Society for Health Care Epidemiology in Dallas, Texas.
The study has not yet been published. But the results have persuaded Johns Hopkins Hospital to replace its automatic faucets with manual ones.
The Chicago Faucet Company supplies the hospital with automatic and manual faucets. Patrick Kimener, the senior vice president of sales, said he had not seen the full study.
PATRICK KIMENER: "Our company has been around for a hundred and ten years. We’ve been a long-term supplier for an awful lot of health care facilities in the U.S. and we're more than interested to find out what those findings would be."
And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. I’m Christopher Cruise.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (94)06-04-2011LEE(South Korea)As everybody kowns, washing hands is very important to protect one's health from various viruses killing people's lives. In some places especially in hospitals, however, the devises that people can use water rather may give them serious damage. This makes me embarrassed. Anyway, it is good for me to get a new information. As well as thank VOA for providing useful Knowledge.
06-04-2011Khuyenbuithi(Viet Nam)A new exposition, a new warning for everyone. Thanks the scientists a lot.
06-04-2011prince(China)People cry, not because they're weak. It's because they've been strong for too long. just like water.
06-04-2011Balance(China)I've learned from the report that things are not always as they seam to be.
06-04-2011Very interesting
06-04-2011junjun(China)Everything has two sides!
06-04-2011Andydong(China)I'd rather prefer to automatic faucet
06-04-2011Autumn Leaf(Vietnam)I always think that the water from automatic faucets is the safest water because we do not have to touch the faucets to switch the water on and off. It is terrible to know that automatic faucets have more parts so there are more many areas where bacteria could live and grow. This information is worth being interested and we could find ways to avoid using automatic faucets very often while the study about them is in the process.
06-04-2011Bunna Chea(Cambodia)I think you webpage is so good. I always listen to you Video.
06-04-2011Sin.Sivutha(Cambodia)Thanks for VOA special English programe, that quoted this topic to study.
06-04-2011ibrahim sahroug(egypt)we should have a solution
06-04-2011Slava(CR)I thought, that automatic faucets are more hygienic and healthy on public places such as toilets. We should fight against bacteria and microbes not each against other.
06-04-2011Kenan(Turkey)It is very interesting article. The research resultes suprised me. In order to reduce the risk, Companies can produce outomatic faucets which contained less parts like manuel one and water pressure can be increased to remove bacteria.
06-04-2011WinsorThank you on this report. i used automatic and manual faucets every day at the hospital, public places, governemt buildings, and library etc. I need to upgrade at home to get manual faucets for the kitchen sink, and the bath tub.......
06-04-2011绿(China)Automatic and manual faucets each has it's good reason to use in public bathrooms. Wash our hands often with flowing water is the easy way.
06-04-2011hythem(egypt)i wanna learn english
06-04-2011C(Vietnam)I have been thinking that automatic faucets are modern and can limit bacteria from touching handles. i'm very excited when i come in supermarkets or commercial centers where i have a change use those automatic faucets. Now, my home is still using manual faucets, and i'm very happy to know that, all the members of my family are safe now, especialy, my two - month niece with non-full development of immune system.
06-04-2011drac(China)is that a general case? i quite agree with the fact that it is clearly caused by water pressure and more parts.
06-04-2011Anggely Dawson(Peru)I love this program becouse is easy to leard english and listen 1,2,3 times if i need thanks for make our second language easier
06-04-2011Thanh(Vietnam)It is good to know. It is very interesrting.
06-04-2011?oàn Th? Thanh Hoa(Vi?t Nam)I really love this program. Through it I can improve my listening skill. Thanks so much
06-04-2011simon(Taiwan)really? ls automatic faucets contain more parts than manual faucets ? I saw many automatic faucets look very sample ~ maybe some of automatic faucets have more parts to contains bacteria than manual faucets ~ just my opion .
06-04-2011Shin(japan)we have a culture which is public bass. It may cause Legionella bacteria.Take care.
06-04-2011Sandro Bullé(Brazil)Very good article!! Congratulations!
06-04-2011Pham Tuan Anh(Viet Nam)I love VOA very much.
06-04-2011Uldarico Ulrich(USA)Very interesting the research and your program.I think is very useful to obtain fluency in English language.THANKS.
06-04-2011TRI(VietNam)Thanks for helping to improve my English skill and develope my knowlege.
06-04-2011Sni(Vietnam)Not only is the research of great importance in preventing bacteria from harming many patients, but also it has reminded scientists to have a look at other inventions which probably have unknown negative influences on people.
06-04-2011TiTi Ho(Vietnam)It's a great news ! We think we can save water but the infection is the best wat make us think about that.
06-04-2011Maki(Japan)It seems that replacing into the manual faucets turns back the clock. But there's no choice in a hospital where many weak people stay. An automatic faucet has been a norm for me. When it isn't, it feels a hassle. I have been a lazy person probably, although a manual faucet was once natural for me as a kid.
06-04-2011Maki(Japan)It seems that replacing into the manual faucets turns back the clock. But there's no choice in a hospital where many weak people stay. An automatic faucet has been a norm for me. When it isn't, it feels a hassle. I have been a lazy person probably, although a manual faucet was once natural for me as a kid.
06-04-2011(canada)that a good things!!!
06-04-2011Beth(Brazil)Very interesting article.
06-04-2011Charlie(Korea)Very interesting. We can find a lot of automatic faucits in public area. The faucits shoud be cleaned regularly.
06-04-2011ALIThis is great idea.I hope every restaurant do that and in our home to reduce the pollution in our life.
07-04-2011Joruji(Japan)Hands-free faucets may have some disadvantages, but I like them because they are cool gadgets and can save a lot of water. It would be nice to have one automatic faucet at home. Thanks for the informative report.
07-04-2011Helen(China)In general the electronic faucet is the most safe faucet , the problem is only when it may not be suitable to be used in hospitals since many ppl may have weaken immune systems, maybe the electronic may have to make the water flows at the same speed or make the water have the relevant high pressure , this problem may be solved .
07-04-2011liday(china)We should find a way to protect ourselves from bacteria.
07-04-2011sun(china)I consider the automatic faucet is better than traditonal faucet before.
07-04-2011dodi(indonesia)what so surprise to heard that, so i am a lucky man who always use the manual one
07-04-2011Beatrice(China)i'm very surprised ,it is true? usually,because people think the Automatic faucets are more healthyful .
07-04-2011Yuki(Japan)I was surprised when reading this article because i often use hands free fausets in public places. and in my opinion, this problem may influence other devices, i guess. especially in my country, we always use the toilet it has a bidet function..
07-04-2011peter tiger(China)we can solve this problem
07-04-2011James(Indonesia)Well thanks to VOA for the information. I am working in the plumbing departement at Menards and I bet my manager doesn't know anything about it :)
07-04-2011Fred(France)I'm learning english (intermediate). Very interesting article.
07-04-2011BOONG(KOREA)Good information. thanks
07-04-2011Jenny(china)This passage help me know more about faucets. in the past, I even do not know that automatic faucets will carry such large amounts of bacterias.
07-04-2011Emiko(Japan)This is an interesting article. I wonder how often handles from manual faucets spread infections to people by touching?
07-04-2011Jihun Park(South Korea)I'm surprise of this research..This article is good.
07-04-2011Thika(Cambodia)This must be a good news for most developed countries who always use modern equipment. Any way, this can provide another knowledge to me.Thanks
07-04-2011Wang Kui(China)It is very interesting.Automatic faucets is less hygienic and healthy thant these manual.First time that I know that.3Q.
07-04-2011jack(vietnam)In all operation departments from over the world, doctors always use free-hand faucets for washing hands before wearing surgical gloves. Thus, it sounds strange if some inside parts of these faucets is the source of promoting the growth of bacteria. Maybe scientists should do a lot of examinations before the final conclusion. Thank VOA for an interesting news.
07-04-2011Artry(China)I am that surprised to read it; I may never think of it without this report. And I will open my eyes wider and wider.
07-04-2011M.hmoud(saudi arabia)surpricingly , I thought it's better than the normal one .. ! anyway it's a remarkable study that , mainly , we should adhere to ..
07-04-2011Louis(China)in fast food restaurant, we can two types of automatic faucets. one is full-automatic faucets with electronic sensor that can work work by itself when people wash their hands. the other one is semi-automatic called delay faucets.it is pure mechanical. when people use water to wash hands, the faucets need to be pressed at first,after a certain delay, the flow of water will be stopped by Delay faucets
07-04-2011Eduar(Colombia)I think that the tecnologic is automatic faucet but seem that traditional faucet is the best for the human healthy, however the solution is to increase water pressure, to improve the automatic faucet.
07-04-2011davut(turkey)thanks for good information, i thinkfaucets must be automatic and contain less bacteria
08-04-2011botot(vietnam)Thanks for your messages. YOU do not worry much. Not only faucets where bacteria could grow very fast but also drains contain metal bacteria, fungi,....in my opinion, we should use all material (inox: sustainess 316 L), water pressure, RO water....
08-04-2011Pereira(Brazil)I'm surprise with this article...
08-04-2011batchuka bodonguud(mongolia)Wow these info is truly wonderful news i love too cosmopolitian of science i was long time ago these news paper read so i had been dreaming space air bus ride to world around trip in dreams has thanks a lot my buddy and this voa special news bless you all
08-04-2011Huyen(Vietnam)Sounds that we have to redesign the inside structure of these automotic faucets. They should be made more simple and grown the speed of water flow. After this finding, I guess I have another thought about automatic facilities that I used to believe are always clean and safe.
08-04-2011FIT(VN)This article is very useful for me! I always think that automatic is better than manual. So now, i can please with the manual faucet that my family is using. VOA provides me much infomation that i cant get from other web. Thank VOA so much!
08-04-2011FIT(VN)This article is very useful for me! I always think that automatic is better than manual. So now, i can please with the manual faucet that my family is using. VOA provides me much infomation that i cant get from other web. Thank VOA so much!
08-04-2011Burton(China)I think the study is not worth worrying about for healthy people but for sick people with weakened immune systems. Because the Legionella bacteria is only harmful to patients with diseases like cancer,AIDS and so on.
08-04-2011Joachim Kulwa(Tanzania)I real appreciate voa special english programe.
08-04-2011I think the report should also consider bacterias on the touching parts of manual faucet.
09-04-2011Pablo Ruiz(Medellín - Colombia)We cannot forget the profit of the automatic faucets for save water, instead of change this, is better modify so that it cannot keep and spread bacteria.
09-04-2011sussi(china)i think that there is always a lot of argument about health .actually,there isn't any exact answer about it.with time goes by,there will be more and more discovery about health,and work out different anwsers.
09-04-2011Nana(china)Maybe all kinds of faucets be a risk to Some Hospital Patients.
09-04-2011Mma(Iran)Thanks VOA for putting interesting materials that is very helpful for learning English language.
09-04-2011julian patino(colombia)I think this article is very importan because it can help us to care our health. Thank you very much VOA NEWS for displaying this kind of articles.
09-04-2011Ra'ed salaam(Egypt)Thanks alot
09-04-2011Ling(China)This is a good perspective to notice something which we thought them safe and healthy. And maybe
10-04-2011Alicia(USA)This article is very interesting to everybody, I hope we learn to pay attention for our health .Thanks VOA for this wonderful article. :-)
10-04-2011thuanh(vietnam)It's make me very surprised. Thks alot^^
10-04-2011cosmo(taiwan)wow,so that Hands-Free Faucets will not be reducing water
10-04-2011matchgirlI know,for the first time,Automatic faucets might hide more bacterias than traditional faucets.Thanks for telling me such informations.
10-04-2011Ngoc(Viet Nam)From the envidences given in the research, it seems that the automatic faucets are dangerous for people who have a weak immune system and it's rarely harmful for healthy people. But how can we know our body has a strong system or not ?! According to me, providers should make some study related to the faucets' structure/ functions to improve the water quality. Therefore, both healthy ones and patients can used them.
10-04-2011Wesley(U.S.A)I think a manual faucet is better than an automatic faucet. The manual faucets is more easier being cleaned. It is less parts and places to let bacteria growing. On the other hand, people are touching an automatic faucet to get more water. This is an another way that automatic faucets are contamined.
11-04-2011Thutong(Vietnam)Thanks alot VOA, these informations is useful. I want to lean English more.
11-04-2011Thutong(Vietnam)Thanks alot VOA, these informations is useful. I want to lean English more.
11-04-2011Dr. Khwaja sayeed sadaqat(Afghanistan)That is very interested, and thanks researcher for such as searching, in my point of view the automatic faucet is batter than the manual faucet especially in public around, because if we use the automatic faucet just we exposure to a few bacteria which are present in water, but if we use the manual faucet we will exposure to all the bacteria which are present in hospital, thanks for being patient.Dr. Sadaqat, Afghanistan
11-04-2011lale(china)THAT IS SO GOOD.
11-04-2011Wagih(Egypt)Not all you think is right
11-04-2011dubi(israel)The hospitals have to clean a water system more often. I think it may be a desicion to a problem of collecting bacteria in the automatic faucets
12-04-2011alex_hong(Viet)I haven't known about this before, it makes me supprise. Thanks alots and i'll give your patiens this adversity
12-04-2011Hiro(Japan)We have to consider
12-04-2011swteng(china)It is a terrible thing!
12-04-2011Ruben(Ukraina)Very interesting, I would say shoking
12-04-2011KANG(north korea)i have to consider...thanks fof article.
12-04-2011Nasser(Canada-)Thank you very much for this very informative article!Keeo up the good work!
12-04-2011DanielThanks for information. It is very interesting.
12-04-2011Rei K(Japan)I've never thought that automatic faucets could be more risky than manual ones. I will remember this fact whenever I wash my hands with an automatic faucet.
12-04-2011Andrew(South Korea)How about sterilizing regularly?I Think people rarely get sick from the bacteria in this case.
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