Once the bacteria that cause hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) invade the hospital environment, they’re very hard to eradicate, according to the second part of an article on the CleanLink website. For example, when C. diff exits the body, the bacteria form resistant endospores.
“These spores in particular are challenging to disinfect,” said Benjamin Tanner, president of Antimicrobial Test Laboratories.
“Once they enter the environment, there are only a few disinfectants and technologies that can kill them. And the spores tend to get everywhere … moving easily from surface to surface,” he said in the article.
Within the healthcare facility, areas differ in terms of the infection- control cleaning methods needed in each space.
Administration and public spaces are all about public satisfaction, the article said. Keeping these areas clean, safe and shiny provides strong public appeal; general patient treatment areas and accommodations pose more risk, the article said. Infection control cleaning standards for these spaces need to be defined.