title: Beyond the Hawthorne effect: reduction of Clostridium difficile environmental contamination through active intervention to improve cleaning practices.
abstract: Education and passive observation resulted in a significant improvement in housekeeper disinfection of nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile spores artificially inoculated onto surfaces in C. difficile infection rooms. A further significant reduction occurred with direct supervision and real-time feedback, suggesting that optimal disinfection is achieved by working closely with housekeepers.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals of Cleveland Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Dubert M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Carling
authors.forename: Lucy A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jury
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponnada
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nerandzic
authors.forename: Curtis J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Donskey
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004203:Disinfection / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005246:Feedback; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D011786:Quality Control