Impact of Plastic-Wrap Properties and Cleaning Intervals on the Disinfection of Elevator Buttons.

Fomite transmission is a possible route by which different pathogens spread within facilities. In hospital settings, elevator buttons are widely observed to be covered with various types of plastic wraps; however, limited information is available concerning the impact of different plastic materials on cleaning. Our study aimed to identify which plastic material is suitable for the coverage of elevator buttons and the optimal intervals for their cleaning. We tested six plastic covers, including polyethylene (PE), polymethylpentene (PMP), polyvinyl chloride (PVD), and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) plastic wraps; a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) keyboard cover; and a polyethylene terephthalate-ethylene vinyl acetate (PET-EVA) laminating film, which are plastic films. The bioburden on the elevator buttons at different time intervals was measured using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay. Our results show that wraps made of PVDC had superior durability compared with those of PMP, PVC, and PVDC, in addition to the lowest detectable ATP levels among the six tested materials. Regarding different button locations, the highest ATP values were found in door-close buttons followed by door-open, and first-floor buttons after one- and three-hour intervals (p = 0.024 and p < 0.001, respectively). After routine disinfection, the ATP levels of buttons rapidly increased after touching and became more prominent after three hours (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that PVDC plastic wraps have adequate durability and the lowest residual bioburden when applied as covers for elevator buttons. Door-close and -open buttons were the most frequently touched sites, requiring more accurate and precise disinfection; therefore, cleaning intervals of no longer than three hours may be warranted.

Assessment of a novel antimicrobial surface disinfectant on inert surfaces in the intensive care unit environment using ATP-bioluminesence assay.

BACKGROUND: Cross-contamination from inanimate surfaces can play a significant role in intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired colonization and infection. This study assessed an innovative isopropyl alcohol/organofunctional silane solution (IOS) to reduce microbial contamination on inert surfaces in a medical ICU. METHODS: Baseline adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence testing (ABT)-measurements (N = 200) were obtained on designated inert ICU surfaces followed by IOS treatment. At 1 and 6 weeks, selective surfaces were randomized to either IOS-treated or nontreated controls for comparison using ABT (N = 400) and RODAC colony counts (N = 400). An ABT value of ≤45 relative light units (RLU) was designated as "clean," whereas >45 was assessed as "dirty." RESULTS: Mean RLU baseline values ranged from 870.3 (computer keyboard) to 201.6 (bed table), and 97.5% of surfaces were assessed as "dirty." At 6 weeks, the mean RLU of surfaces treated with IOS ranged from 31.7 (physician workstation) to 51.5 (telephone handpiece), whereas values on comparative control surfaces were 717.3 and 643.7, respectively (P < .001). Some 95.5% of RODAC cultures from IOS-treated sites at 6 weeks were negative, whereas 90.5% of nontreated sites were culture-positive, yielding multiple isolates including multidrug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: IOS-treated surfaces recorded significantly lower RLU and RODAC colony counts compared with controls (P < .001). A single application of IOS resulted in a persistent antimicrobial activity on inert ICU surfaces over the 6-week study interval.

Value of ATP Bioluminescence Assay for Assessing Object Surface Contamination Degree in Intensive Care Unit / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the value of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)bioluminescence assay for assessing object surface contamination degree in intensive care unit(ICU).Methods 30 groups of high frequency contact object(including ventilator panel,bedside table and computer keyboard)in ICU from January to December 2016 were enrolled for the study. Each object was sampled and evaluated before and after disinfection,and their surface was divided into two areas,whose sur-face contamination degree was evaluated by ATP bioluminescence assay and bacterial culture method that were classified as ATP group and control group.The fluorescence detection value and colony number were compared between two groups be-fore and after disinfection.The correlation between the fluorescence detection value and colony number was analyzed by Pearson correlation in the same sample,and the Kappa consistency test was used for the qualification rates of two detections. Results ①The fluorescence detection value and colony number of ventilator panel,bedside table and computer keyboard af-ter disinfection in two groups were significantly lower than that before disinfection(t=8.107~26.393,all P<0.05).②Pearson analysis result showed that both before and after disinfection,the fluorescence detection value had no significant cor-relation with colony number of ventilator panel,bedside table and computer keyboard(r=0.199~0.338,all P>0.05).③There were no significant differences in the qualification rate between two groups of ventilator panel,bedside table and com-puter keyboard before and after disinfection(χ2=0.000~1.404,all P>0.05).The qualification rate before the disinfection of ATP group and control group were 0 and 8.9%,and that after disinfection were 86.7% and 91.1%,whose Kappa consis-tency test result showed that the Kappa value was 0.776(95%CI:0.575~0.978)>0.75,so the consistency was quite sat-isfied.Conclusion ATP bioluminescence assay could be used as a rapid and handy preliminary screening to assist bacterial culture method to evaluate the object surface contamination in ICU,and the result was satisfactory and it would be worthy of clinical application.

Assessment of an innovative antimicrobial surface disinfectant in the operating room environment using adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay.

Terminal cleaning in the operating room is a critical step in preventing the transmission of health care-associated pathogens. The persistent disinfectant activity of a novel isopropyl alcohol/organofunctional silane solution (ISO) was evaluated in 4 operating rooms after terminal cleaning. Adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence documented a significant difference (P < .048) in surface bioburden on IOS-treated surfaces versus controls. RODAC plate cultures revealed a significant (P < .001) reduction in microbial contamination on IOS-treated surfaces compared with controls. Further studies are warranted to validate the persistent disinfectant activity of ISO within selective health care settings.

Adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay for monitoring contamination of the working environment of anaesthetists and cleanliness of the operating room.

Anaesthetists possibly contribute to the spread of infections during anaesthesia. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay is an easy-to-perform, on-the-spot assay that provides objective data; therefore, using the LuciPac®Pen and the Lumitester PD-20®System, we assessed contamination of the working environment of anaesthetists before and after surgery as well as their hands at the time of each procedure during induction and extubation. Similarly, cleanliness of the operating room was evaluated using this assay to determine whether it is useful to assess the effectiveness of the routine cleaning protocols followed after surgery. ATP concentrations in the working environment of anaesthetists and their hands increased during surgery. In addition, ATP concentrations within the working environment decreased after routine cleaning with ethanol or accelerated hydrogen peroxide; however, there were no differences in the number of sites with ATP concentrations >500 relative light units before and after cleaning. This method is useful to evaluate contamination of the working environment of anaesthetists; nevertheless, it is prudent to evaluate the effectiveness of routine cleaning protocols because ATP bioluminescence assays are influenced by the use of various disinfectants at varying concentrations.

Application of adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay in rapid detection of bacteria on the surface of health care workers’mobile phones / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To detect bacterial content on surface of mobile phones of health care workers (HCWs)by adenosine triphosphate (ATP )bioluminescence assay.Methods HCWs in departments of internal medicine,surgery, medical laboratory,and administration were randomly selected,50 in each department,field detection on bacterial content on surface of mobile phones of HCWs was conducted,the relevant data were recorded.Results A total of 200 mobile phones were detected,33 mobile phone surface were qualified,the qualified rate was 16.50%.Qualified rate of mobile phone surface of HCWs in different departments as well as mobile phone disinfected by different modes were different(χ2 =13.46,10.24,respectively,both P 0.05).Conclusion The qualified rate of bacterial content on surface of HCWs’mobile phone is low,the awareness of hand hygiene of HCWs should be strengthened,regular cleaning and disinfection on the mo-bile phone can effectively reduce bacteria on the mobile phone surface.