Cleanliness of portable medical equipment disinfected by nursing staff

How Reliable Are ATP Bioluminescence Meters in Assessing Decontamination of Environmental Surfaces in Healthcare Settings?

“…In some studies, ATP meters have not been examined for their correlation with the actual microbial count, and have only reported RLU values as a measure of surface cleanliness [16], [17], [23]. Other studies suggest a loose correlation between the RLU values and the actual counts [1]. Further studies have also shown the interaction of detergents and disinfectants in RLU readings [6], [8], [10], [11], [16], [17], [23] and some include comparisons of different bioluminescent meters [1], [12], [14].…”

“…Other studies suggest a loose correlation between the RLU values and the actual counts [1]. Further studies have also shown the interaction of detergents and disinfectants in RLU readings [6], [8], [10], [11], [16], [17], [23] and some include comparisons of different bioluminescent meters [1], [12], [14]. Carrick et al compared four different ATP meters and their swab units and found poor detection and linearity when the surfaces are swabbed.…”

“…Several types of pathogens can readily survive on high-touch environmental surfaces in healthcare and other settings [1]–[4] as a result these surfaces may act as vehicles for the spread of a variety of nosocomial pathogens [3], [5]. In 2002 in the US, 5% of all patients acquired such infections and of these, the mortality rate was nearly 6% [6]–[11].…”

Understanding and Preventing Transmission of Healthcare-Associated Pathogens Due to the Contaminated Hospital Environment

“…1617 Similarly, inadequate cleaning of portable medical equipment by nursing staff has also been demonstrated. 18 The implementation of enhanced education, checklists, and methods to measure the effectiveness of room cleaning (eg, use of fluorescent dye) with immediate feedback to environmental services personnel has been found to improve cleaning and lead to a reduction in healthcare-associated infections. 19 No-touch methods (eg, ultraviolet C [UV-C] light and hydrogen peroxide systems) have been developed to improve terminal room disinfection.…”

Disinfectants used for environmental disinfection and new room decontamination technology

“…17 A study by Havill et al using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assays and aerobic cultures demonstrated that medical equipment frequently had not been disinfected as per protocol. 18 Disinfection is generally performed using an US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered hospital disinfectant such as quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorine-containing compound, phenolics, or improved hydrogen peroxide (HP) ( Table 1). The improved HP-based environmental surface disinfectants have proved to be more effective (>6-log 10 reduction) and fastacting (30-60 seconds) microbicides in the presence of a soil load (to simulate the presence of body fluids) than commercially available HP.…”