Comparing visual inspection, aerobic colony counts, and adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay for evaluating surface cleanliness at a medical center
Journal
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Volume
43
Journal Issue
8
Pages
882-886
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Chen M.-L.
Hung I.-C.
Abstract
Background Environmental cleaning is essential in reducing microbial colonization and health care-associated infections in hospitals. However, there is no consensus for the standard method to assess hospital cleanliness, and comparisons of newer methodology, such as adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay, with the traditional methods are limited. Methods A prospective study was conducted at a medical center between January 2013 and August 2013. In each selected room, 10-12 high-touch surfaces were sampled before and after terminal cleaning. The adequacy of cleaning was evaluated by visual inspection, aerobic colony counts (ACCs), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay. Results Eighty-five environmental surfaces from 8 rooms were evaluated by all 3 methods. The overall inadequacy defined by visual inspection, ACC, and ATP level was 11.8%, 20.0%, and 50.6% before cleaning and 4.7%, 5.9%, 21.2% after cleaning, respectively. A correlation between the ACC and ATP was found (r = 0.285, P <.001) using log10 values. Using ACCs <2.5 colony forming units/cm2 as the cutoff for cleanliness, the ATP assay had better sensitivity than visual inspection (63.6% vs 27.3%). The receiver operating characteristics of the ATP assay indicated that the optimal ATP cutoff value was estimated to be 5.57 relative light units/cm2. Conclusion ATP bioluminescence assay is a sensitive and rapid tool in evaluating the quality of terminal cleaning. We emphasize the value of using a quantitative method to monitor environmental cleaning at hospitals. ? 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adenosine triphosphate; adenosine triphosphate; Article; ATPase activity assay; bacterial colonization; bacterial count; bacterium identification; bioluminescence; cleaning; controlled study; environmental monitoring; Kruskal Wallis test; mass spectrometer; microbial contamination; nonhuman; prospective study; receiver operating characteristic; surface property; university hospital; comparative study; disinfection; evaluation study; human; infection control; luminescence; microbiology; procedures; sensitivity and specificity; time factor; university hospital; Academic Medical Centers; Adenosine Triphosphate; Colony Count, Microbial; Disinfection; Environmental Microbiology; Hospitals, University; Humans; Infection Control; Luminescent Measurements; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surface Properties; Time Factors
Publisher
Mosby Inc.
Type
journal article