Monitoring the effectiveness of cleaning in four British hospitals
Author
Cooper, Rose
Griffith, Chris J.
Malik, R. E.
Obee, Peter
Looker, N.
Date
2007Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
0196-6553
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A survey of cleaning effectiveness was conducted in two wards in four acute hospitals in England and Wales. Surfaces were monitored immediately before and after cleaning on three separate occasions using visual assessment, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence, expressed in relative light units (RLUs), and microbiological methods (aerobic colony counts [ACC]), expressed in colony forming units (cfu) per cm2.
Methods
Comparison of data from a total of over 3000 assessments showed highly significant differences in failure rates between visual assessment and either ATP or microbiological counts. There was no significant difference in failure rates between ATP and microbiological counts. Using visual assessment, failure rates were significantly lower after cleaning than before. Using ATP or microbiological methods, failure rates were not significantly different after cleaning.
Results
Data obtained using both ATP and ACC, indicated considerable variability after cleaning and that failed surfaces were often well in excess of benchmark values.
Conclusions
Cumulatively, the results indicate that visual assessment is not a reliable indicator of surface cleanliness or of cleaning efficacy. Concerns also arise about the standards of surface cleanliness achieved after cleaning in the hospitals.
Journal/conference proceeding
American Journal of Infection Control
Citation
Cooper, R.A., Griffith, C.J., Malik, R.E., Obee, P. and Looker, N. (2007) 'Monitoring the effectiveness of cleaning in four British hospitals', American Journal of Infection Control, 35(5), pp.338-341
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, subject and abstract.
-
The Development, Implementation and Validation of a Cleaning System within Dairy Processing Plant
Arnold, Lisa (University of Wales, 2009)Food manufacturing companies are under increased pressure to ensure food safety and compliance with legislation. Constant media and press coverage has increased consumer awareness of the quality and microbiological safety ... -
Microbiological Risks Associated with Hot-Drinks Vending
Hall, Andrew (University of WalesCardiff School of Health Sciences, 2008)The UK vending industry has received little microbiological attention. Although reported cases of gastroenteritis related to hot-drinks vending are rare, there is evidence of microbial contamination and one reported outbreak ... -
Study of cleaning standards and practices in food premises in the United Kingdom
Griffith, Chris J.; Little, C. L.; Mitchell, R. T.; Sagoo, S. K. (Health Protection Agency, 2003)A study was undertaken to determine the microbiological status of surfaces used in the preparation of ready-to-eat foods, and to assess cleaning standards and practices in food premises in the UK. A total of 6,533 environmental ...