Improved cleaning of patient rooms using a new targeting method.
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).
Carling
Philip C
PC
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, Carney Hospital, Boston, MA 02124, USA. pcarling@cchcs.org
Briggs
Janet L
JL
Perkins
Jeanette
J
Highlander
Deborah
D
D004203:Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005453:Fluorescence; D006761:Hospitals; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D010362:Patients' Rooms