Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T04:27:00.271Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Quantitative Approach to Defining “High-Touch” Surfaces in Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Kirk Huslage*
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
William A. Rutala
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Emily Sickbert-Bennett
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
David J. Weber
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, CB 7600, 1001 West Wing NCMH, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (dhuslage@unch.unc .edu)

Abstract

Fifty interactions between healthcare workers and patients were observed to obtain a quantifiable definition of “high-touch” (ie, frequently touched) surfaces based on frequency of contact. Five surfaces were defined as high-touch surfaces: the bed rails, the bed surface, the supply cart, the over-bed table, and the intravenous pump.

Type
Concise Communcations
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Pittet, D, Allegranzi, B, Sax, H, et al.Evidence-based model for hand transmission during patient care and the role of improved practices. Lancet Infect Dis 2006;6:641652.Google Scholar
2.Hayden, MK, Blom, DW, Lyle, EA, Moore, CG, Weinstein, RA. Risk of hand or glove contamination after contact with patients colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus or the colonized patients' environment. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29:149154.Google Scholar
3.Kampf, G, Kramer, A. Epidemiologic background of hand hygiene and evaluation of the most important agents for scrubs and rubs. Clin Microbiol Rev 2004;17:863893.Google Scholar
4.Sehulster, L, Chinn, RY; CDC; HICPAC. Guidelines for environmental infection control in health-care facilities: recommendations of the CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2003;52(RR-10):142.Google Scholar
5.Kramer, A, Shewbke, I, Kampf, G. How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2006;6:130137.Google Scholar
6.Huang, SS, Datta, R, Platt, R. Risk of acquiring antibiotic-resistant bacteria from prior room occupants. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:19451951.Google Scholar
7.Drees, M, Snydman, DR, Schmid, CH, et al.Prior environmental contamination increases the risk of acquisition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Clin Infect Dis 2008;46:678685.Google Scholar
8.Shaughnessy, M, Micielli, R, Depestel, D, et al.Evaluation of hospital room assignment and acquisition of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). In: Programs and abstracts of the 48th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC)/In-fectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) 46th Annual Meeting. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, 2008. Abstract K-4194.Google Scholar
9.Carling, PC, Briggs, JL, Perkins, J, Highlander, D. Improved cleaning of patient rooms using a new targeting method. Clin Infect Dis 2006;42:385388.Google Scholar
10.Carling, PC, Parry, MF, Rupp, ME, et al.Improving cleaning of the environment surrounding the patients in 36 acute care hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29:10351041.Google Scholar