Environmental Services

At the 2025 Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, Dr. Marie Fluent passionately discussed infection control, emphasizing hand hygiene, waterlines, and the critical role of vaccinations in dental settings.

New research reveals hospital ventilation and air purifiers may unintentionally spread viral particles, increasing infection risks. Infection preventionists must rethink airflow strategies to protect patients and staff.

Despite revolutionary advancements like alcohol-based hand rubs, infection prevention still faces major hurdles. Poor adherence to hygiene, overreliance on technology, and understaffed environmental services create perfect storm conditions for deadly outbreaks.

Norovirus and avian influenza outbreaks require infection preventionists to enhance hygiene, train staff, implement PPE use, and ensure effective disinfection to protect health care workers, patients, and facilities.

Hospitals rely on automated disinfectant dispensers, but a study led by Curtis Donskey, MD, found inconsistent dilution levels, with some dispensers releasing only water. Improved monitoring and design modifications are essential.

Evolving air quality monitoring technologies, like an IAQ Exposure Index, provide real-time data to detect airborne contaminants, enhance infection control, and protect vulnerable healthcare populations from respiratory exposures.

EvaClean partners with Microsplitting Ltd. to distribute its advanced disinfection systems and absorbents, revolutionizing infection prevention across health care, education, hospitality, and industrial sectors worldwide.

Discover how innovative strategies in scheduling, staff engagement, and continuous learning transformed a hospital’s environmental services, enhancing efficiency, employee satisfaction, and patient care standards.

Adopting IDEA—identify, define, explain, apply—streamlines contamination control. Infection control professionals can mitigate risks through prevention, intervention, and training, ensuring safer health care environments and reducing frequent contamination challenges.

Learn how Cameron Memorial Community Hospital saved $38,000 by outsourcing laundry services to a local vendor, maintaining quality, creating space, and strengthening community ties—all while enhancing patient experience.

Learn how Cameron Memorial Community Hospital revamped waste management protocols through collaboration, signage, and team training, achieving efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced compliance in high-risk areas like ORs and EDs.

From advanced sterilization methods to combating antimicrobial resistance, Infection Control Today’s top articles of 2024 delivered actionable strategies for safer healthcare environments and improved patient outcomes.

Cameron Memorial Community Hospital streamlined pharmaceutical waste management through signage, training, and collaboration, cutting waste nearly in half and saving costs while boosting staff competencies and accountability.

Cameron Memorial Community Hospital streamlined cleaning practices by consolidating products, saving costs, empowering staff, and ensuring infection control. Collaborative efforts fostered efficiency, safety, and improved staff engagement.

In the first of a series, Darren Goff, executive director of hospitality services at Cameron Memorial Community Hospital in Angola, Indiana, speaks on how the environmental services team uses OhmniClean UV-C robots as an adjunct to their already excellent services.

Explore APIC’s groundbreaking framework for defining and documenting infection preventionist competency. Christine Zirges, DNP, ACNS-BC, CIC, FAPIC, shares insights on advancing professional growth, improving patient safety, and navigating regulatory challenges.

Learn how Pula General Hospital in Croatia championed infection prevention and environmental hygiene and celebrated Clean Hospitals Day to honor cleaning staff and promote advanced practices for exceptional patient care and safety.

Discover SHEA's visionary 10-year plan to reduce HAIs by advancing infection prevention strategies, understanding transmission, and improving diagnostic practices for better patient outcomes.

Learn more about how effective air pressure regulation in health care facilities is crucial for controlling airborne pathogens like tuberculosis and COVID-19, ensuring a safer environment for all patients and staff.

Discover how a groundbreaking color additive for disinfectant wipes improved hospital cleanliness by 69.2%, reduced microbial presence by nearly half, and enhanced cleaning efficiency—all without disrupting workflows.

Gloves, masks, and surface disinfectants are infection prevention powerhouses. Equip your practice with these essentials to protect patients and staff this cold and influenza (flu) season.

A CDC report reveals 25 years of splash pad-linked waterborne outbreaks, highlighting risks from pathogens like Cryptosporidium. Prevention requires better hygiene, water treatment, and public health strategies.

Learn how Germitec’s Chronos uses patented UV-C technology for high-level disinfection of ultrasound probes in 90 seconds, enhancing infection control, patient safety, and environmental sustainability.

A 3-D approach to infection control involves air and surface cleaning, leveraging monitoring, purification, and modeling technologies to reduce respiratory infection risks in health care environments.

Outsourcing environmental hygiene in health care facilities offers cost benefits but often compromises quality. Effective oversight, training, and standards are essential for ensuring patient safety.