title: The role of the surface environment in healthcare-associated infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews the evidence demonstrating the importance of contamination of hospital surfaces in the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens and interventions scientifically demonstrated to reduce the levels of microbial contamination and decrease healthcare-associated infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contaminated surface environment in hospitals plays an important role in the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE), Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter spp., and norovirus. Improved surface cleaning and disinfection can reduce transmission of these pathogens. 'No-touch' methods of room disinfection (i.e., devices which produce ultraviolet light or hydrogen peroxide) and 'self-disinfecting' surfaces (e.g., copper) also show promise to decrease contamination and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospital surfaces are frequently contaminated with important healthcare-associated pathogens. Contact with the contaminated environment by healthcare personnel is equally as likely as direct contact with a patient to lead to contamination of the healthcare provider's hands or gloves that may result in patient-to-patient transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Admission to a room previously occupied by a patient with MRSA, VRE, Acinetobacter, or C. difficile increases the risk for the subsequent patient admitted to the room to acquire the pathogen. Improved cleaning and disinfection of room surfaces decreases the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Healthcare, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7030, USA. dweber@unch.unc.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Deverick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rutala
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*