Hospital cleaning fails to combat resistant germs

A study carried out at the University of Maryland Medical Centre has found that cleaning an intensive care room that has been occupied by a patient infected with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii may not remove the risk of the next patient becoming infected.

The study showed that although cleaning reduced the risk of contamination, it did not completely remove the threat of transmission. Novel cleaning methods such as hydrogen peroxide vapour and ultraviolet light have been shown to be significantly more effective. However, turnaround time may limit regular use and hinder implementation in hospitals, the report said.

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All 32 rooms included in the study, which was carried out at the centre’s medical, surgical, and cardiac surgery intensive care units, had been occupied by a patient infected or colonised by multidrug-resistant A-baumannii. Environmental samples were taken when the patient was ready for discharge and again after the room had been cleaned. The samples were collected from various sites including the bed rail buttons, bedside table handle, call button and interior and exterior door handles.

— ECJ