Objective: to determine the efficacy of cleaning products on Multi Resistant Organisms (MROs) on frequently touched patient surfaces in the hospital environment.
Method: Surfaces were inoculated with MROs prevalent in paediatric patient populations in a tertiary referral centre. These surfaces were then cleaned using five different methods. The surfaces, which included vinyl, laminate and stainless steel, were inoculated with Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and an Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL). They were then cleaned with AGAR neutral detergent, Tuffie 5 wipes, Dettsol®, Chloradet and Nocospray®. Prior to cleaning, each inoculated surface was swabbed to determine the presence of the MRO.
Results: ESBL was only isolated from two inoculated surfaces, suggesting that it did not survive well on the surfaces trialled. Where ESBL was isolated it was removed by all cleaning products. VRE was isolated from every surface inoculated, MRSA from all but two. All cleaning methods removed MRSA from the inoculated surfaces. Neutral detergent and water significantly reduced the amount of VRE detected on all surfaces, while Tuffie 5 wipes, Chloradet and Nocospray® completely removed VRE. Dettsol® decreased the number of VRE although there was still scanty (1-10) to moderate (10-100) colonies detected after cleaning.
Conclusions: In this trial, detergent and water was effective in reducing the bioburden on surfaces, however further disinfection by Tuffie 5 wipes, Chloradet or Nocospray was required to remove VRE. Dettsol® was ineffective at removing VRE. These results have contributed to the revision of our current environmental cleaning practices.