Major article
Cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in health care: Toward an integrated framework for infection and occupational illness prevention

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.01.029Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • This study offers an integrated approach to health care infection and occupational illness prevention.

  • This study was performed by an international multidisciplinary working group.

  • This study identifies major gaps in knowledge, practice, and policy.

  • There are future needs for research, practice guidance, and preventive actions.

  • Professional organizations can coordinate the integrated approach.

Background

The Cleaning and Disinfecting in Healthcare Working Group of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Occupational Research Agenda, is a collaboration of infection prevention and occupational health researchers and practitioners with the objective of providing a more integrated approach to effective environmental surface cleaning and disinfection (C&D) while protecting the respiratory health of health care personnel.

Methods

The Working Group, comprised of >40 members from 4 countries, reviewed current knowledge and identified knowledge gaps and future needs for research and practice.

Results

An integrated framework was developed to guide more comprehensive efforts to minimize harmful C&D exposures without reducing the effectiveness of infection prevention. Gaps in basic knowledge and practice that are barriers to an integrated approach were grouped in 2 broad areas related to the need for improved understanding of the (1) effectiveness of environmental surface C&D to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases and colonization in health care workers and patients and (2) adverse health impacts of C&D on health care workers and patients. Specific needs identified within each area relate to basic knowledge, improved selection and use of products and practices, effective hazard communication and training, and safer alternatives.

Conclusion

A more integrated approach can support multidisciplinary teams with the capacity to maximize effective and safe C&D in health care.

Key Words

Disinfection
Infection prevention
Occupational exposure
Asthma
Green cleaning

Cited by (0)

Funding/Support: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provided support for Working Group telephone conference calls.

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other organizations whose members took part in the Working Group. This article is not a standard or regulation, and it neither creates new legal obligations nor alters existing obligations created by any Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards or the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Conflicts of interest: None to report.