“Science, Not Politics”: Alexandra Peters, PhD, on Advancing Environmental Hygiene and Clean Hospitals Day 2025

Science shouldn’t be political, but in 2025 it often is. Alexandra Peters, PhD, CEO of Clean Hospitals in Geneva, Switzerland, does not flinch. “Science shouldn’t be political,” she said. “But if the fact that you’re supporting science becomes political, then…let it be so.”

Her request is simple: “Everyone…stands up for what the evidence-based recommendations are…my ignorance isn’t as good as someone else’s knowledge.” Despite noisy debate, she notes, “98% of the people doing the science all agree on most of the big issues.”

That clarity fuels this year’s Clean Hospitals Day (October 20, 2025), themed Human Factors and Collaboration. Peters’ team has built free, multilingual toolkits—posters, social tiles, screensavers—“really highlighting the fact that environmental service workers are healthcare workers.” Integrating EVS into care teams is non-negotiable, she added: “Each patient has a team of people behind them, and we’re only as strong as our weakest link.” Any facility can download materials and celebrate locally; the goal is recognition and momentum. “It’s always a good idea to have events to celebrate personnel who are often marginalized and underfunded…The return on investment is usually very good.”

Peters is candid about the work ahead. “There are big issues in almost every healthcare facility’s environmental hygiene program…not necessarily dependent on income level,” she said. Perfection is rare: “I don’t know a single facility…with a phenomenal, perfect program,” citing gaps in pedagogy, teamwork, and communication. Part of the challenge is economics: avoided infections and faster OR turnover are harder to count than a reimbursable procedure. That’s changing. “More and more studies…are doing economic assessments of their interventions—and everybody should.” Meanwhile, genomic sequencing is sharpening accountability: “It’s been invaluable—being able to say, no, your disease comes from that sink.”

The global response is encouraging. “We’ve had ministries of health reach out…to celebrate Clean Hospitals Day with us,” Peters said. For those wanting a deeper dive, she’s offering a free Weber Teleclass on human factors in environmental hygiene (recording available).

Her closing note matches the day’s theme: celebrate people, align around evidence, and collaborate across roles. “We’ll take this and run—and make it better than it is.”