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Mops and Buckets Spread Germs
"Bucket solutions become contaminated almost immediately during cleaning, and continued use of the solution transfers increasing numbers of microorganisms to each subsequent surface to be cleaned.
"...Another source of contamination in the cleaning process is the cleaning cloth or mop head, especially if left soaking in dirty cleaning solutions."
CDC
By B. M. Andersen, MD, PhD; H. Banrud, Dr Scient; E. Boe, Bc Econ, MEng; O. Bjordal, MEng; F. Drangsholt, PhD
Abstract
Objective
To determine the bactericidal effect on surfaces of ceiling‐ and wall‐mounted UV C (UVC) light (wavelength, 254 nm) in isolation units, compared with standard hospital environmental cleaning and chemical disinfection during final disinfection after patients are treated for infections.
Design
Microbial samples were obtained from surfaces in isolation units (patient room, anteroom, and bathroom) before and after irradiation with UVC, chloramine disinfection, and standard hospital environmental cleaning. Samples were tested using standard contact plates.
Setting
Four identical, negative air‐pressure isolation units (patient room, anteroom, and bathroom) with a defined number of ceiling‐ and wall‐mounted UVC light units. The UVC distribution was monitored in one isolation unit after irradiation for approximately 40 minutes, corresponding to doses ranging from 160 J/m2 in a shadowed area to 19,230 J/m2 at the mostly highly exposed site (which is high enough to inactivate most bacterial organisms, including spores).
Results
UVC disinfection significantly reduced the number of bacteria on surfaces directly or indirectly exposed to UVC to a very low number, as did 5% chloramine disinfection alone (for both). Completely shadowed areas in the isolation unit (eg, the bed rail, lockers, and mattresses) still required disinfection by chemicals.
Conclusion
Disinfection with UVC light may significantly reduce environmental bacterial contamination and thereby protect the next patient housed in an isolation room. UVC disinfection may not be used alone but is a good addition to chemical disinfection.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006;27:729–734
© 2006 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.
0899-823X/2006/2707-0015$15.00
DOI: 10.1086/503643
Authors:
B. M. Andersen, MD, PhD;
H. Bånrud, DrScient;
E. Bøe, BcEcon, MEng;
O. Bjordal, MEng;
F. Drangsholt, PhD.
From the Department of Hospital infections and Department of Internal Services, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo (B.M.A., E.B.); Klean ASA, Rud (H.B., O.B.); and the Faculty of Technology, Sør‐Trøndelag University College, Trondheim (F.D.), Norway.
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