Evaluating the Cleaning Program Efficacy in ICU Ward of General Hospital Using Visual and Microbial Approaches

Background & Aims of the Study: Hospital infectious is one of the major causes ofmortality among the hospitalized cases. The interior environment status of hospitals has theimportant rule in microbial transmission. Translocation of the infectious agents may beessentially due to contacts between patients and contaminated interior environment. Thiswork was performed to assess the hygienic circumstances of Shahid-Beheshti Hospitallocated in Kashan.Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during 10 weeks whichwas based on two approaches including environmental observations relied on a checklistand a sampling program. The samples were taken to determine the ACC, staining, catalase,coagulase, menthol fermentation (MSA) and DNase. Data analysis was performed usingSPSS 18 with McNamara nonparametric approach.Results: Based upon the observation checklist, 184 cases (92%) among the pre-cleanedobjects were reported as contaminated . Also, 160 cases (80%) from post-cleaned objectswere reported as contaminated . Whereas, the findings obtained from microbial testsreported that, 169(84.5%) and 138(69%).14.5 sampling points were contaminated withStaphylococcus aurous, respectively. Results revealed that the hygienic status of thehospital objects and surfaces was improved by cleaning program. The effectiveness ofcleaning program was verified both via visual (P<0.001) and microbial method (P<0.001).Conclusions: Despite of high levels of microbial counts and some observed dirty whichwere remained after the cleaning program; it seems that routine cleaning programs areuseful approaches for surface cleaning. Applying the standard protocol for cleaningpractices and implementing a precise monitoring system can be useful to reduce theinfection transmission risk and cross contamination. The Hospital Infection ControlCouncil (HICC) has the major rule to achieve the mentioned hygienic targets.