Here are six recent stories that may boost healthcare providers' efforts to improve environmental quality.
1. Steam vapor technology may be an effective way to disinfect healthcare environments. Researchers tested the effectiveness of steam vapor by using the technology on biofilms developed by four bacterial strains on the same test surface. The technology was also tested on biofilms developed by E. coli on four different testing surfaces. Their analysis showed 3-second steam treatment had a more than 99.95 percent killing efficiency on each biofilm tested. This effectiveness held true on different surfaces as well.
2. Hydrogen peroxide vapor may be more effective than ultraviolet radiation for environmental decontamination. Researchers compared the two methods by placing carrier disks with Clostridium difficile spores and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores in five high-touch sites in 15 patient rooms. The researchers found significantly more samples saw no bacterial growth after the vapor compared to the UV method. They concluded hydrogen peroxide vapor may be more effective.
3. The attitudes and beliefs held by healthcare environmental service workers could influence the effectiveness of their work. Researchers administered questionnaires and hosted focus groups to assess environmental service workers' attitudes, beliefs and intentions about their jobs. They also assessed the effectiveness of their work before and after an educational intervention. The study authors found environmental service workers often felt lack of appreciation and pride in work. However, environmental contamination was significantly reduced after the educational intervention.
4. The Association for the Healthcare Environment unveiled its new professional education brand identity — ENGAGE — which brings together all of AHE's in-depth professional education and career development programs in critical knowledge, leadership development, best practices and trends. ENGAGE will also provide Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Professional preparatory sessions and other continuing professional education offerings.
5. The American Hospital Association's Association for the Healthcare Environment now offers a best practices toolkit for healthcare environmental quality. The toolkit was designed to boost compliance on best practices for environmental cleanliness. It includes an employee recognition certificate, campaign poster, checklist and calling cards for cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms. To obtain the toolkit, click here.
6. University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Columbus Community Hospital and Regional West Medical Center are testing a device designed to measure the cleanliness of various surfaces in patient rooms. At each test site, a small area in a patient care room is sampled with a small stick that is put into a device for measuring contaminants in the environment. The results are available within seconds. Readings are used to educate the hospital's housekeeping staff on best practices in hospital cleaning. Results will be studied by the research team to determine the best use for this detection device to maximize environmental cleanliness in hospitals.
1. Steam vapor technology may be an effective way to disinfect healthcare environments. Researchers tested the effectiveness of steam vapor by using the technology on biofilms developed by four bacterial strains on the same test surface. The technology was also tested on biofilms developed by E. coli on four different testing surfaces. Their analysis showed 3-second steam treatment had a more than 99.95 percent killing efficiency on each biofilm tested. This effectiveness held true on different surfaces as well.
2. Hydrogen peroxide vapor may be more effective than ultraviolet radiation for environmental decontamination. Researchers compared the two methods by placing carrier disks with Clostridium difficile spores and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores in five high-touch sites in 15 patient rooms. The researchers found significantly more samples saw no bacterial growth after the vapor compared to the UV method. They concluded hydrogen peroxide vapor may be more effective.
3. The attitudes and beliefs held by healthcare environmental service workers could influence the effectiveness of their work. Researchers administered questionnaires and hosted focus groups to assess environmental service workers' attitudes, beliefs and intentions about their jobs. They also assessed the effectiveness of their work before and after an educational intervention. The study authors found environmental service workers often felt lack of appreciation and pride in work. However, environmental contamination was significantly reduced after the educational intervention.
4. The Association for the Healthcare Environment unveiled its new professional education brand identity — ENGAGE — which brings together all of AHE's in-depth professional education and career development programs in critical knowledge, leadership development, best practices and trends. ENGAGE will also provide Certified Healthcare Environmental Services Professional preparatory sessions and other continuing professional education offerings.
5. The American Hospital Association's Association for the Healthcare Environment now offers a best practices toolkit for healthcare environmental quality. The toolkit was designed to boost compliance on best practices for environmental cleanliness. It includes an employee recognition certificate, campaign poster, checklist and calling cards for cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms. To obtain the toolkit, click here.
6. University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Columbus Community Hospital and Regional West Medical Center are testing a device designed to measure the cleanliness of various surfaces in patient rooms. At each test site, a small area in a patient care room is sampled with a small stick that is put into a device for measuring contaminants in the environment. The results are available within seconds. Readings are used to educate the hospital's housekeeping staff on best practices in hospital cleaning. Results will be studied by the research team to determine the best use for this detection device to maximize environmental cleanliness in hospitals.