A systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors associated with acquisition of waterborne healthcare-associated infection or colonization in high-risk units.

In this meta-analysis, central venous catheter exposure (pooled odds ratio, 8.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.19-29.31; P < .01) in neonates and length of stay (standardized mean difference, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.26-1.05; P = .01) in an adult population were associated with acquisition of waterborne healthcare-associated infections or colonization in ICUs. The quality of evidence was low.