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 of mortality among the hospitalized cases. The interior environment status of hospitals has the important rule in microbial transmission. Translocation of the infectious agents may be essentially due to contacts between patients and contaminated interior environment. This work was performed to assess the hygienic circumstances of Shahid-Beheshti Hospital located in Kashan. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during 10 weeks which was based on two approaches including environmental observations relied on a checklist and a sampling program. The samples were taken to determine the ACC, staining, catalase, coagulase, menthol fermentation (MSA) and DNase. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18 with McNamara nonparametric approach. Results: Based upon the observation checklist, 184 cases (92%) among the pre-cleaned objects were reported as “contaminated”. Also, 160 cases (80%) from post-cleaned objects were reported as “contaminated”. Whereas, the findings obtained from microbial tests reported that, 169(84.5%) and 138(69%).14.5 sampling points were contaminated with Staphylococcus aurous, respectively. Results revealed that the hygienic status of the hospital objects and surfaces was improved by cleaning program. The effectiveness of cleaning 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 which were remained after the cleaning program; it seems that routine cleaning programs are useful approaches for surface cleaning. Applying the standard protocol for cleaning practices and implementing a precise monitoring system can be useful to reduce the infection transmission risk and cross contamination. The Hospital Infection Control Council (HICC) has the major rule to achieve the mentioned hygienic targets.