title: Improving operating room cleaning results with microfiber and steam technology.
abstract: Microfiber and steam technology is a novel cleaning method that has advantages for clinical applications. We describe its use in the operating room. The benefits include improved cleaning for every patient regardless of known or perceived risk, occupational health and safety advantages, and reduced cost of cleaning, allowing for expansion of cleaning activity without the need for additional human resources. Continuous surgical site infection surveillance demonstrated that infections remained at previously low levels.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control and Epidemiology Unit, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia. Electronic address: elizabeth.gillespie@monashhealth.org.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: Infection Control and Epidemiology Unit, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia.
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Perioperative Services, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Treagus
authors.affiliation: Perioperative Services, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Perioperative Services, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000592:standards; D011108:Polymers; D013227:Steam; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D013227:Steam
keywords: Environmental cleaning; Microfiber and steam technology; Operating room; Surgical site infection