A hospital study of ice-making machines: their bacteriology, design, usage and upkeep.
Ice-making machines have occasionally been implicated in nosocomial infection. We have examined the ice-making machines in our hospital both bacteriologically and for their general state of cleanliness and repair. Results were variable but, in most cases few organisms of significance were found. Some design features are considered and recommendations for the purchase, maintenance, cleaning and use of these machines are included.