Environmental surveillance in the operating room.
Environmental cleaning in surgical settings minimizes patients' and health care workers' exposure to potentially infectious microorganisms. This article describes the implementation of an instrument designed to help nurses monitor OR environments, identify problem areas, and correct cleaning deficiencies before patient care is affected adversely. During a six-month pilot test in which the instrument was used daily to compare contamination events in rooms and on room surfaces, contamination events in the ORs decreased. These measurable outcomes helped health care workers develop strategies for proper cleaning and influenced multidisciplinary decision making about terminal cleaning issues.
Neil
Janice A
JA
Department of Adult Health, School of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
Nye
Pamela E
PE
Toven
Lisa Ann
LA
D001207:Asepsis / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000592:standards*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D010865:Pilot Projects