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Tip of the week: Improve environmental cleaning efforts

Infection Control Monitor, November 30, 2007

Housekeeping staff members are a critical resource when it comes to reducing the transmission of organisms such as C. difficle and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).

But when researchers at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center examined the effectiveness of their housekeeping staff's disinfection efforts, they were disappointed. After meeting with the housekeeping staff, researchers made the following changes:

•  Housekeeping staff members were given 30 minutes to clean each room.
• Nurses began notifying housekeeping staff members sooner when the rooms became available to clean.
• Housekeepers were given spray bottles containing a 10% bleach solution, which they sprayed on high-touch surfaces. They did not wipe the surfaces, but simply allowed the solution to air dry.

To read more about improving cleaning efforts and controlling C. diff, go to www.hcpro.com/content/78420.cfm. The cost is $10. Briefings on Infection Control subscribers received this story with their subscriptions.

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