Authors' recommendations: Contamination of the hospital surface environment is associated with healthcare-acquired infection (HAI) with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE), Clostridium difficile (CD), Acinetobacter spp., and norovirus. In the United States in 2011, one in 25 hospitalized patients developed an HAI (722,000 patients), of whom 75,000 died during their hospitalization. MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., and norovirus can survive for days to weeks on dry surfaces, and spores of CD can survive for months. Disinfection of hospital surfaces reduces colonization with these pathogens and decreases rates of patient infections and of hand and glove contamination among hospital workers. No-touch methods of disinfection are gaining in popularity and add significantly to the effectiveness of traditional methods of environmental cleaning. The incidence and severity of hospital-associated CD infection (HA-CDI) is increasing, as is the incidence of the infection in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. CD is associated with antibiotic use, especially fluoroquinolones. One risk factor for HA-CDI and other HAI is contamination of patient rooms by previous occupants. In addition to standard environmental cleaning, chlorinated agents are used to clean rooms in which patients with CD infection are housed. Sequelae of CD infection include sepsis, rehospitalization, colectomy, and death.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2014

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=17001

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2014 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc