title: [Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in hospitals: Data on structure, process and result in the Frankfurt/Main Metropolitan Area].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to hand hygiene and reprocessing of medical products, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces is also an important issue in the prevention of germ transmission and by implication infections. Therefore, in 2014, the quality of the structure, process and result of surface preparation of all hospitals in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, was monitored.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 17 hospitals transferred information on the quality of structure. Process quality was obtained through direct observation during cleaning and disinfection of rooms and their plumbing units. Result quality was gained using the fluorescent method, i.e. marking surfaces with a fluorescent liquid and testing if this mark has been sufficiently removed by cleaning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Structure quality: in all hospitals the employees were trained regularly. In 12 of them, the foremen had the required qualifications, in 6 hospitals unclarity as to the intersection of the cleaning and care services remained. In 14 hospitals only visible contamination was cleaned on the weekends, whereas complete cleaning was reported to take place in 12 hospitals on Saturdays and in 2 hospitals on Sundays. The contractually stipulated cleaning (observations specified in brackets) averaged 178 m(2)/h (148 m(2)/h) per patient room and 69 m(2)/h (33 m(2)/h) for bathrooms. Process quality: during process monitoring, various hand contact surfaces were prepared insufficiently. Result quality: 63 % of fluorescent markings were appropriately removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The need for improvement is given especially in the area of the qualification of the foremen and a in a clear definition of the intersection between cleaning and care services, as well as in the regulations for weekends and public holidays.
authors: Gesundheitsamt, Breite Gasse 28, 60313, Stadt Frankfurt, Deutschland.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hausemann
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hofmann
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Otto
authors: Ursel
authors: U
authors: Heudorf
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology*; D005858:Germany; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011786:Quality Control; D013242:Sterilization / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013499:Surface Properties