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 …
British researchers claim that improper use of disinfectant wipes in medical and health care facilities may do more harm than good. These wipes might be disseminating drug-resistant organisms instead of removing or destroying them. Studies of two Welsh hospitals’ intensive care units indicated that cleaning …
A recent report published for the Infectious Diseases Society of America claims that norovirus infection outbreaks are a commonplace occurrence in enclosed environments or populations, such as those found on cruise ships. Such outbreaks have been linked to improper and inadequate cleaning practices. To verify …
A study by Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Pharmacy looked into the ability of antimicrobial-surface wipes to remove, kill and prevent the spread of such infections as MRSA. They found that current protocols utilized by hospital staff have the potential to spread pathogens after only …
If the severity of 2009 H1N1 increases, your employer should be planning to use other control measures to reduce close contact among coworkers and with others in the workplace. Not all of the following options can be used in every workplace or for every job …
N95 respirators are designed to protect you from breathing in very small particles that may contain viruses. These types of respirators fit tightly to the face so that air is inhaled through the filter material. N95 respirators should be worn only once and then thrown …
Just one extra cleaner on a hospital ward can save lives and money, according to new research sponsored by UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union. The detailed study found that one extra cleaner, using targeted cleaning methods, had a “measurable effect on the clinical …
Most indoor household dust that collects on furniture and floors actually comes from outdoors, a new study finds. Where does it come from? Scientists in Arizona are reporting a surprising answer to that question, which has puzzled and perplexed generations of men and women confronted …
Background Norovirus infection outbreaks (NoVOs) occur frequently in closed populations, such as cruise ship passengers. Environmental contamination is believed to play an important role in NoVO propagation. Methods Trained health care professionals covertly evaluated the thoroughness of disinfection cleaning (TDC) of 6 standardized …
Yes, they are, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina Health Care System and University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC. According to the authors of a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control, microfiber mops removed …