State regulation of hospital water temperature.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine current regulations and policies in the United States concerning maximal water temperatures in acute care hospitals. DESIGN A standardized questionnaire administered by telephone to health department officials from 50 states and the District of Columbia. SETTING State Health Departments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. RESULTS All states responded to the survey. Respondents from 39 states (77%) reported regulating maximum allowable hospital water temperature at a mean of 116 degrees F (median, 120 degrees F; mode 110 degrees F; range, 110 degrees F to 129 degrees F). Twelve states (23%) have no regulations for maximum water temperature. Of the 39 states regulating maximum water temperature, 30 (77%) routinely monitor hospital compliance. Nine states (23%) conduct inspections only in response to a complaint or incident. CONCLUSIONS There is great variation among the states with respect to the existence, enforcement, and specific regulations controlling hospital water temperature. Risk-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses would help to assess the risk of scald injuries at water temperatures that will inhibit microbial contamination.