In a review article in the latest issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, researchers Jonathan Otter, Saber Yezli and Gary French acknowledge that while outbreaks of infection have been associated with contaminated hospital equipment and environmental surfaces, "the degree to which ongoing contamination of the surface environment contributes to the development of healthcare-associated infections is unclear, and approaches to control are uncertain." They add further, "Hospital patients shed pathogens into their surrounding environments, but there is debate over the importance of the resulting surface contamination as a source for subsequent transmission."
In the article, Otter, et al. review evidence that nosocomial pathogens are shed by patients and can contaminate hospital surfaces at concentrations sufficient for transmission, can survive for extended periods, can persist despite attempts to disinfect or remove them, and can be transferred to the hands of healthcare providers. They also review evidence that improved environmental hygiene can help to bring outbreaks under control and reduce endemic nosocomial transmission.
The researchers conclude, "The historical perspective that contaminated surfaces contribute negligibly to nosocomial transmission has been reevaluated in light of new information. There is now compelling evidence that contaminated surfaces make an important contribution to the epidemic and endemic transmission of C. difficile, VRE, MRSA, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa and to the epidemic transmission of norovirus. However, few studies have quantified the link between contaminated surfaces and the risk of transmission. This is in part due to the difficulties in conducting research in this area because of the multifaceted nature of nosocomial transmission. In addition, the widespread view that contaminated surfaces are relatively unimportant in transmission has meant that fundholders and administrators have not commissioned research in this area until relatively recently. There is now sufficient evidence to support further studies in this area to identify the best methods of achieving and maintaining clean hospitals and to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of such interventions with respect to reducing the incidence of hospital-associated infections. In particular, there is a need to conduct large, high-quality prospective controlled trials to identify interventions that significantly reduce surface contamination and transmission."
Reference: Otter JA, Yezli S and French GL. The Role Played by Contaminated Surfaces in the Transmission of Nosocomial Pathogens. Infect Control Hosp Epidem. Vol. 32, No. 7. Pp. 687-699. July 2011.
Happy Hand Hygiene Day! Rethinking Glove Use for Safer, Cleaner, and More Ethical Health Care
May 5th 2025Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.
Show, Tell, Teach: Elevating EVS Training Through Cognitive Science and Performance Coaching
April 25th 2025Training EVS workers for hygiene excellence demands more than manuals—it requires active engagement, motor skills coaching, and teach-back techniques to reduce HAIs and improve patient outcomes.
The Rise of Disposable Products in Health Care Cleaning and Linens
April 25th 2025Health care-associated infections are driving a shift toward disposable microfiber cloths, mop pads, and curtains—offering infection prevention, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency in one-time-use solutions.
Vet IP Roundtable 2: Infection Control and Biosecurity Challenges in Veterinary Care
March 31st 2025Veterinary IPs highlight critical gaps in cleaning protocols, training, and biosecurity, stressing the urgent need for standardized, animal-specific infection prevention practices across diverse care settings.
Invisible, Indispensable: The Vital Role of AHRQ in Infection Prevention
March 25th 2025With health care systems under strain and infection preventionists being laid off nationwide, a little-known federal agency stands as a last line of defense against preventable patient harm. Yet the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is now facing devastating cuts—threatening decades of progress in patient safety.