Monitoring and improving the effectiveness of surface cleaning and disinfection

William A Rutala; David J Weber

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.10.039

Monitoring and improving the effectiveness of surface cleaning and disinfection

Am J Infect Control. 2016 May 2;44(5 Suppl):e69-76. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.10.039.

Authors

William A Rutala¹, David J Weber²

Affiliations

¹ Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC; Division of Infectious Diseases, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC. Electronic address: brutala@unch.unc.edu.
² Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC; Division of Infectious Diseases, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC.

PMID: 27131138
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.10.039

Abstract

Disinfection of noncritical environmental surfaces and equipment is an essential component of an infection prevention program. Noncritical environmental surfaces and noncritical medical equipment surfaces may become contaminated with infectious agents and may contribute to cross-transmission by acquisition of transient hand carriage by health care personnel. Disinfection should render surfaces and equipment free of pathogens in sufficient numbers to prevent human disease (ie, hygienically clean).

Keywords: Surface; cleaning; disinfection.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Decontamination / methods*
Disinfection / methods*
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Housekeeping, Hospital / methods*
Humans
Surface Properties