Use, Behaviour, and Bioburden at Handwash Basins Study - V4.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study of Use, Behaviour, and Bioburden at Hospital Handwash Basins and Their Influence on Bacterial Transmission Pathways.
IRAS ID
357123
Contact name
James Bendall-Boyd
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Hospital water-based devices, such as handwash basins (HWBs), are often colonised with bacteria, and some of these are resistant to antibiotics. These basins can therefore be a potential source for hospital-acquired infections (HCAIs), which affect 7% of all acute-care patients and costs NHS England an estimated £1.6 billion every year. Reducing HCAIs through better infection prevention and control (IPC) is a priority for both the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This study is part of a PhD project at the University of Surrey and is funded by UKHSA. The aim is to learn how bacteria could spread from hospital HWBs to patients. The study, held across Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) Hospitals, involves a pilot phase and three main phases.
The Pilot and Phase One are both in-person observations. They will focus on how staff, patients, and visitors interact with surfaces and items after using HWBs. The pilot phase will serve to assess feasibility and develop the methodologies for Phase One, which represents the main data collection step. Data on the frequency and type of activity will help identify the primary transmission routes of bacteria from HWBs in different settings.
Phase Two will be a questionnaire for staff, patients, and visitors. It explores how individuals use basins and where they go thereafter, helping to identify behavioural patterns and differences between user groups.
Phase Three will involve environmental sampling of HWBs, drains, and surrounding surfaces to assess contamination levels, comparing factors such as basin design, purpose, and location.
Together, the study aims to build a clearer picture of how handwash basins may contribute to the spread of bacteria. The findings could inform improvements to IPC practices and help reduce the impact of HCAIs in healthcare settings.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1281
Date of REC Opinion
13 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion