At AHE 2011, Ecolab Inc. will also showcase the enhanced reporting available of its EnCompass Environmental Monitoring Program. The EnCompass program provides an objective and measurable method for healthcare facilities to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of their room cleaning programs using DAZO® Fluorescent Marking Gel and a mobile application to record room evaluation data, in combination with training and reporting.
To objectively evaluate cleaning outcomes, DAZO is applied to high-touch objects (e.g., bed rails, call buttons, light switches, toilet seats, etc.) before a room is cleaned. After cleaning, the high-touch objects are inspected with a black light to determine if the marks were removed, indicating whether or not the object was thoroughly cleaned. Using Ecolabs mobile application hospitals can record and keep track of cleaning outcomes to measure their performance.
Customers can now access real-time data and reports on cleaning effectiveness including the percentage of high-touch objects cleaned, comparisons against baseline data and identification of areas for improvement.
The CDC Toolkit, "Options for Evaluating Environmental Cleaning," identifies the environments role in the spread of infections, and the need to continuously evaluate and improve environmental cleaning.
Â
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
Streamlined IFU Access Boosts Infection Control and Staff Efficiency
June 17th 2025A hospital-wide quality improvement project has transformed how staff access critical manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), improving infection prevention compliance and saving time through a standardized, user-friendly digital system supported by unit-based training and interdepartmental collaboration.
Spring Into Safety: How Seasonal Deep Cleaning Strengthens Hospital Infection Control
June 13th 2025Rooted in ancient rituals of renewal, spring-cleaning has evolved from cultural tradition to a vital infection prevention strategy in modern hospitals—one that blends seasonal deep cleaning with advanced disinfection to reduce pathogens, improve air quality, and protect patients.
AHE Exchange Summit 2025 Brings EVS and Infection Prevention Experts Together in Columbus, Ohio
June 9th 2025The Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) is set to host its largest event of the year—Exchange Summit 2025—from June 8 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. With over 600 environmental services (EVS) professionals expected to attend, this year’s conference focuses heavily on infection prevention, interdepartmental collaboration, and education that empowers frontline health care support leaders to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
Far UV-C Light Shows Promise for Decontaminating Medical Equipment in Clinical Settings
June 4th 2025Manual cleaning gaps on shared hospital equipment can undermine infection control efforts. New research shows far UV-C light can serve as a safe, automated backup to reduce contamination in real-world clinical settings.