Improved cleaning of patient rooms using a new targeting method

Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Feb 1;42(3):385-8. doi: 10.1086/499361. Epub 2005 Dec 29.

Abstract

We developed a new method using an invisible fluorescent marker to target standardized high-touch surfaces in hospital rooms. Evaluation of 1404 surface objects in 157 rooms in 3 hospitals revealed that 47% of targets had been cleaned. Educational interventions were implemented, leading to sustained improvement in cleaning of all objects and a >2-fold improvement in cleaning of surfaces previously cleaned <85% of the time (P<or=.001).

MeSH terms

  • Disinfection / standards
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Equipment Contamination / prevention & control
  • Fluorescence
  • Hospitals
  • Housekeeping, Hospital / standards*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Patients' Rooms