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Improved pathogen education needed for hospital environmental service workers
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A survey of hospital environmental service workers showed that this type of worker needs more education about common pathogens spread by contaminated environmental services.
Thirty-nine environmental service workers participated in the study, which was conducted at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Hospital in Ohio. The workers completed an eight-question survey on their knowledge of pathogens, contamination, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the use of bleach. The survey also included questions on the importance of environmental cleaning, barriers to cleaning and willingness to participate in a monitoring program.
Thirty-five of the workers had 3 or more years of experience in the field. Only four workers knew that Clostridium difficile was commonly spread by contaminated environmental surfaces and six workers knew that bleach is needed to kill C. difficile. Regarding bleach use, only six workers knew that when using bleach, surfaces must stay wet for 8 to 10 minutes.
Most of the workers (82%) correctly identified that health care workers’ hands are commonly contaminated after touching the toilet seat, call button or patients’ skin. Nearly all workers (92%) believed that environmental disinfection was important to infection control, but just more than half (54%) believed they had received enough education about the topic. Barriers to good cleaning included: Poor communication about rooms being ready for cleaning, insufficient time for cleaning, inadequate cleaning supplies and inadequate education about cleaning.
“The findings from this survey suggest the need for improved education of pathogens that are spread by contaminated environmental surfaces and which of these are killed with bleach,” the researchers wrote. “This education should cover appropriate application of bleach and assessment of the adequacy of the time allotted for room cleaning.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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