Reduction of Clostridium Difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus contamination of environmental surfaces after an intervention to improve cleaning methods

Abstract

Background: Contaminated environmental surfaces may play an important role in transmission of some healthcare-associated pathogens. In this study, we assessed the adequacy of cleaning practices in rooms of patients with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization or infection and examined whether an intervention would result in improved decontamination of surfaces.

The Need for Additional Investigation of Room Decontamination Processes

“…We based this belief on published reports demonstrating that (1) suboptimal environmental hygiene is common in hospitals, as evidenced by the finding that only 48% and 44% of high-risk surfaces in 1,605 acute care hospital patient rooms and 100 intensive care unit rooms, respectively, were cleaned as part of routine terminal room disinfection in 2 independent studies; 3 ' 4 and (2) application of a commercial cleaner disinfectant product containing 5,500 ppm sodium hypochlorite by research staff was very effective in eradicating C. difficile spores from commonly-touched environmental surfaces in the rooms of patients with C. difficile infection. 5 In fact, it is notable that the average residual C. difficile contamination rate of 2.6% in 3 studies of hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) published to date is essentially identical to the 1.8% residual contamination found by Eckstein and colleagues (P>.99) (Table l). 1,6 ' 7 Indeed, the fact that the latter study documented an overall reduction rate of 97% in environmental contamination, compared with an average of 89%, in the 3 studies of HPV raises the possibility that thorough environmental cleaning with a hypochlorite disinfectant may be at least as effective as HPV decontamination (Table 1).…”

Preparation and rapid analysis of antibacterial silver, copper and zinc doped sol–gel surfaces

“…Metal doped sol-gel solution 3.1.1. 29 Si Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of metal doped sol-gel solution…”

“…The chemical interaction between metal dopants and the sol-gel matrix was analysed by 29 Si NMR to identify any structural variation in the sol-gel network formed. The NMR spectrum of the pure MTEOS precursor (Fig.…”

“…Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of metal doped sol-gel solutions Chemical interaction between the silane matrix and the metal ions were analysed using liquid-state 29 Si NMR spectroscopy using a Bruker400 MHz spectrometer. The method determined the degree of hydrolysis and condensation of the organosilane skeleton structure in each system, as measured by the number of hydroxo and oxo bridges, respectively.…”

Silver doped perfluoropolyether-urethane coatings: Antibacterial activity and surface analysis

“…Overnight incubation of the inoculated coatings resulted in approximately 99% (>10 3 CFU/ml), reduction in bacterial colonies compared to undoped samples after 24 h. The broadspectrum activity suggests the use of these hygienic coatings in preventing environmental contamination on hand rails, bedside rails, door handles and other transmissible surfaces in healthcare environments. This is important as patients who are infected with healthcare and community associated microbes may shed bacteria onto fomites such as those found in hospitals, nursing homes, childcare facilities, prisons and public transport [28]. In addition, as silver ion release is governed by water diffusion through the coating [17], the use of water as a cleaning agent, in-place of standard antiseptics and detergents, may be sufficient to generate a bio-active surface.…”