Communicating the Importance of Environmental Hygiene to Healthcare Workers
Assistant Professor Irena Kenneley comments on contaminated environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities
Posted 7/15/11
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Irena Kenneley, PhD, APRN-BC, CIC |
Assistant Professor Irena Kenneley, PhD, APRN-BC, CIC comments on contaminated environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities in an article for Infection Control Today, discussing the impact of such contamination on patients and recommending continuous training to environmental services and housekeeping personnel.
"There is no debate as to the role that contaminated surfaces play in the transmission of MDROs in the healthcare delivery setting," she says. "There are many compelling studies that point to an environmental cause in outbreak situations, but one study regarding the impact of environmental MRSA and VRE contamination was conducted that really underscores the role of contaminated fomites (Huang, Datta and Platt, 2006). In this study it was found that after retrospective review of 10,000 ICU patients they found patients had significantly higher risk for acquiring MRSA or VRE if the most recent previous occupant of the same room had tested positive for the organisms. These results (and numerous other studies) point directly to an environmental reservoir and provide an explanation for transmission, the links to the chain of infection, and healthcare-associated infection."
Source: Infection Control Today
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