Infection Control Today Magazine

Environmental Surface Cleaning

Low Levels of Resistant Bacteria Found in Chicago-Area Ambulances

Treatment areas of ambulances fared well when tested for dangerous bacteria, according to a new study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Infection Control. Approximately 6 percent of sites sampled in Chicago-area ambulances tested positive for ...More
March 29, 2012
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Understanding the Physiology of Healthcare Pathogens for Environmental Disinfection

As healthcare workers know, pathogens can survive in the environment for significant periods of time. And if surfaces are not cleaned and disinfected appropriately, these pathogens can be passed on to patients and hospital staff and cause significant, potentially fatal, ...More
February 23, 2012
Posted in Articles, Environmental Hygiene
Clean Spaces, Healthy Patients Project Offers Webinar on Surface Contamination

The first in a series of live webinars available each month as part of the Clean Spaces, Healthy Patients project, will focus on the role of surfaces in the transmission of emerging healthcare-associated pathogens norovirus, Clostridium difficile and Acinetobacter spp. The ...More
February 16, 2012
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
AHE Offers Webinar on Environmental Cleaning Best Practices

The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) is offering a webinar, "Best Practices in Environmental Cleaning and Surface Disinfection," on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012 at 2 p.m. ET. Best practices involve the use of well-developed checklists, standardized cleaning ...More
February 9, 2012
Posted in News, 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
January 30, 2012
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
January 26, 2012
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
January 19, 2012
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Beating Superbugs with a High-Tech Cleanser

Dr. Udi Qimron of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine has developed an efficient and cost-effective liquid solution that can help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and keep more patients safe from ...More
December 9, 2011
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
CIRI International Conducts Cleaning and Disinfection Survey

The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) International is conducting a survey in preparation for its upcoming symposium, “Cleaning & Disinfection: The Science, Practice & Controversy” to be held Nov. 10-11at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Global ...More
October 27, 2011
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene
Panel Tackles Environmental Hygiene-Related Issues

A panel discussion, "Improving Patient Outcomes: Building Bridges Between Infection Preventionists and Environmental Services Professionals," was held at the AHE annual conference Sept. 27, 2011. Panel members were William Rutala and Ruth Carrico, as well as Linda Dickey, ...More
September 29, 2011
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene