TY - JOUR
T1 - ATP measurement as an objective method to measure environmental contamination in 9 hospitals in the Dutch/Belgian border area
AU - van Arkel, Andreas
AU - Willemsen, Ina
AU - Kilsdonk-Bode, Linda
AU - Vlamings-Wagenaars, Sindy
AU - van Oudheusden, Anne
AU - De Waegemaeker, Pascal
AU - Leroux-Roels, Isabel
AU - Verelst, Martine
AU - Maas, Evelien
AU - van Oosten, Anita
AU - Willemse, Patricia
AU - van Asselen, Esther
AU - Klomp-Berens, Ella
AU - Franssen, Karen
AU - Van Cauwenberg, Elise
AU - Kluytmans, Jan
AU - i-4-1-Health Study Group
AU - van Alphen, Lieke
AU - Hoebe, Christian
AU - Jamin, Casper
AU - Savelkoul, Paul
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s).
PY - 2020/5/28
Y1 - 2020/5/28
N2 - Background The objective of this study was to determine the level of environmental contamination in hospitals in the Dutch/Belgian border area, using ATP measurements. Design A cross-sectional observational survey. Methods Standardized ATP measurements were conducted in 9 hospitals on 32 hospital wards. Thirty pre-defined surfaces per hospital ward were measured with the 3 M Clean Trace NG luminometer. Results are displayed in relative light units (RLU). RLU > 1000 was considered as "not clean." Differences in RLU values were compared between countries, hospitals, fomite groups and medical specialties. Results A total of 960 ATP measurements were performed, ranging from 60 up to 120 per hospital. The median RLU-value was 568 (range: 3-277,586) and 37.7% of the measurements were rated as not clean (RLU > 1000). There were significant differences between countries, hospitals and fomite groups. Conclusion ATP measurements can be used as a more objective approach to determine the level of environmental contamination in hospitals. Significant differences in ATP levels were found between hospitals and between countries. Also, substantial differences were found between different fomite groups. These findings offer potential targets for improvement of cleanliness in healthcare facilities.
AB - Background The objective of this study was to determine the level of environmental contamination in hospitals in the Dutch/Belgian border area, using ATP measurements. Design A cross-sectional observational survey. Methods Standardized ATP measurements were conducted in 9 hospitals on 32 hospital wards. Thirty pre-defined surfaces per hospital ward were measured with the 3 M Clean Trace NG luminometer. Results are displayed in relative light units (RLU). RLU > 1000 was considered as "not clean." Differences in RLU values were compared between countries, hospitals, fomite groups and medical specialties. Results A total of 960 ATP measurements were performed, ranging from 60 up to 120 per hospital. The median RLU-value was 568 (range: 3-277,586) and 37.7% of the measurements were rated as not clean (RLU > 1000). There were significant differences between countries, hospitals and fomite groups. Conclusion ATP measurements can be used as a more objective approach to determine the level of environmental contamination in hospitals. Significant differences in ATP levels were found between hospitals and between countries. Also, substantial differences were found between different fomite groups. These findings offer potential targets for improvement of cleanliness in healthcare facilities.
KW - ATP measurement
KW - Fomite
KW - Surface contamination
KW - Cleaning
KW - VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS
KW - ACQUISITION
U2 - 10.1186/s13756-020-00730-9
DO - 10.1186/s13756-020-00730-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 32466792
SN - 2047-2994
VL - 9
JO - Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
JF - Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
IS - 1
M1 - 77
ER -