Infection Control Today Magazine

Environmental Hygiene

Proper and thorough environmental hygiene in hospitals is critical for the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs). Environmental hygiene encompasses rigorous environmental surface cleaning, including cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces in the healthcare setting, as well as decontamination of medical equipment and devices used in patient-care procedures, according to evidence-based practices and recommended guidelines from the CDC.

ASP Offers Webinar on Automated Area Decontamination Best Practices

Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) recognizes the need for more information regarding automated area decontamination and is hosting an informational Webinar focused on the benefits of automated area decontamination as well as the role of the environment in infection ...More
2 days ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Clorox Healthcare Introduces New Line of Activated Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectants

Clorox Professional Products Company, a division of The Clorox Company, announces today the introduction of Clorox Healthcare™ Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes and Spray, a new line of ready-to-use, one-step cleaner disinfectants engineered with a patented ...More
5 days ago
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization, Environmental Hygiene
Asking the Right Questions Guides Solutions to Improving Cleanliness

If we look at the current state of environmental hygiene, what we need to ask ourselves is, “Why is cleanliness still such a problem?” In the past, hospitals have measured cleanliness using patient satisfaction survey responses. There are several pros and cons of this ...More
5 days ago
Posted in Articles, Environmental Hygiene
Researchers Examine UV Powder, Gel for Assessing Environmental Cleaning

Silvia Munoz-Price, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at the University of Miami, and colleagues, report in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology on their comparison of cleaning rates associated with use of ...More
2 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Use of Copper Surfaces in High-Risk Environments Enhances Patient Safety, Researchers Say

Seema Rai, MD, of North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset, N.Y., and colleagues, investigated the impact of copper surfaces on the bacterial burden found on high-touch surfaces of phlebotomy chairs in an outpatient infectious disease clinic. Quantitative ...More
2 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Hospitals Using UV Light to Check Efficacy of its Cleaning Efforts

The Vancouver Sun is reporting on efforts by hospitals under the auspices of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) to check on the efficacy of its hygiene efforts by using hand-held ultraviolet lights. VIHA staff will identify and mark 10 high-touch areas in a ...More
3 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Hospitals to Benefit from New Premier Agreements for Housekeeping Products

The Premier healthcare alliance announces that new agreements for housekeeping products have been awarded to 3M Company of Saint Paul, Minn.; Diversey, Inc. of Sturtevant, Wis.; Procter & Gamble Distributing, LLC. of Cincinnati; Spartan Chemical Company, Inc. of Maumee, ...More
3 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Medline Partners With Infection Prevention Technologies to Distribute Room Disinfection System

In an effort to reduce the growing number of deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the United States, Medline Industries, Inc., announces an exclusive partnership with Infection Prevention Technologies, LLC (IPT) to market a mobile UV-C (high intensity ...More
4 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Linked to Hospital's Decorative Fountain

A 2010 outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Wisconsin has been linked to a decorative fountain in a hospital lobby, according to a study published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. When the outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was detected ...More
4 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
The Clorox Company Acquires Aplicare and HealthLink

The Clorox Company announces that it has acquired Aplicare, Inc. and HealthLink, leading providers of infection control products for the healthcare industry. These acquisitions are important steps in the company’s effort to increase exposure to faster-growing categories as ...More
5 weeks ago
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene