Comparing visual inspection, aerobic colony counts, and adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay for evaluating surface cleanliness at a medical center

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 biolumines...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of infection control 2015-08, Vol.43 (8), p.882-886
Main Authors: Huang, Yu-Shan, MD, Chen, Yee-Chun, MD, PhD, Chen, Mei-Ling, MS, Cheng, Aristine, MBB, Hung, I-Chen, MS, Wang, Jann-Tay, MD, PhD, Sheng, Wang-Huei, MD, PhD, Chang, Shan-Chwen, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Medical Centers
Adenosine triphosphatase
Adenosine Triphosphate - analysis
ATP bioluminescence assay
Bioassays
Colony Count, Microbial
Disinfection - methods
Environment
Environmental Microbiology
Hospital cleanliness
Hospitals
Hospitals, University
Humans
Infection Control
Infection Control - methods
Infectious Disease
Inspections
Luminescent Measurements
Prospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Surface Properties
Time Factors
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Summary: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  
ISSN:0196-6553
1527-3296
DOI:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.03.027