title: Microfiber cloths reduce the transfer of Clostridium difficile spores to environmental surfaces compared with cotton cloths.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Environmental surfaces in health care facilities contaminated with Clostridium difficile spores can be a reservoir that contribute to transmission of hospital-acquired infections. Microfiber cleaning cloths may improve the effectiveness of surface cleaning. The objective of this study was to assess the removal and transfer of C difficile spores on surfaces cleaned by microfiber compared with cotton cloths.
  
  
  METHODS
  C difficile spores (approximately 4.2 log(10)/site) were applied to ceramic surfaces. Microfiber or cotton cloths were used to wipe the surfaces that were sprayed with either buffer or a nonsporicidal cleaning agent. To ensure reproducible pressure and surface contact time, a drill apparatus was used. The pressure was 1.5-1.77 N, and the total number of rotations was 10. Viable counts were used to assess the efficiency of microfiber and cotton cloths in removing and transferring spores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 4.4 log(10)C difficile spores inoculated on a ceramic surface, microfiber and cotton cloths removed 2.4 and 1.7 log(10), respectively. Microfiber cloths containing 4.2 log(10)C difficile spores transferred 1.7 log(10) C difficile spores when used to wipe a ceramic surface compared with cotton cloths that transferred 2.4 log(10). Similarly microfiber wipes transferred fewer spores on consecutive surfaces wiped compared with cotton cloths (0.8 log(10) vs 1.80 log(10)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of microfiber cloths may reduce the risk of C difficile spore transfer during surface cleaning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; St. Boniface Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Adriana N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Trajtman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Kanchana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manickam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; St. Boniface Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Electronic address: malfa@sbrc.ca.
authors.forename: Michelle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alfa
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Cleaning; Environmental; Hospital-acquired infections