ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Enhanced cleaning in healthcare is effective in reducing the number of bacteria on frequently-touched surfaces.

However, a new report reveals that levels of C-difficile infections may stay the same - even after improved cleaning protocols are put in place.

US researchers conducted a 12-month study into the impact of enhanced cleaning in seven acute-care hospitals. They then compared their results with standard cleaning carried out in eight control hospitals.

The study was led by Curtis Donskey, professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio. The researchers reported reduced recovery rates of C. difficile; vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and MRSA from high-touch surfaces following enhanced cleaning. However, there was no impact on the incidence of healthcare-acquired Clostridium difficile infections.

The findings of the study were presented at The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America's spring conference. According to Donskey the results were consistent with those of another recent randomised trial in which the use of ultraviolet disinfection devices had no impact on reducing C. difficiile infections.

The conclusions of both studies were in direct contrast with those of previous research which associated reductions of C. difficile infections with cleaning interventions that were expressly designed to eradicate C. difficile spores.

"The findings of these two large randomised trials suggest that interventions that focus only on improving cleaning may not be sufficient to control healthcare-associated C. difficile infections," said Donskey. "Healthcare facilities faced with high CDI rates should therefore consider other approaches, including antimicrobial stewardship."