10.3205/DGKH000210
Gebel, Jürgen
Jürgen
Gebel
Exner, Martin
Martin
Exner
French, Gary
Gary
French
Chartier, Yves
Yves
Chartier
Christiansen, Bärbel
Bärbel
Christiansen
Gemein, Stefanie
Stefanie
Gemein
Goroncy-Bermes, Peter
Peter
Goroncy-Bermes
Hartemann, Philippe
Philippe
Hartemann
Heudorf, Ursel
Ursel
Heudorf
Kramer, Axel
Axel
Kramer
Maillard, Jean-Yves
Jean-Yves
Maillard
Oltmanns, Peter
Peter
Oltmanns
Rotter, Manfred
Manfred
Rotter
Sonntag, Hans-Günther
Hans-Günther
Sonntag
The role of surface disinfection in infection prevention
German Medical Science GMS Publishing House
2013
JournalArticle
hygiene
infection prevention
surface disinfection
biocide
resistance
cross-resistance
610 Medical sciences; Medicine
2013-04-29
2013
en
urn:nbn:de:0183-dgkh0002105
dgkh000210
text/html
GMS Hygiene and Infection Control; 8(1):Doc10; ISSN 2196-5226
Background: The Rudolf Schuelke Foundation addresses topics related to hygiene, infection prevention and public health. In this context a panel of scientists from various European countries discussed “The Role of Surface Disinfection in Infection Prevention”. The most important findings and conclusions of this meeting are summarised in the present consensus paper.
Aim: Although the relevance of surface disinfection is increasingly being accepted, there are still a number of issues which remain controversial. In particular, the following topics were addressed: Transferral of microbes from surface to patients as a cause of infection, requirements for surface disinfectants, biocidal resistance and toxicity, future challenges.
Methods and findings: After discussion and review of current scientific literature the authors agreed that contaminated surfaces contribute to the transmission of pathogens and may thus pose an infection hazard. Targeted surface disinfection based on a risk profile is seen as an indispensable constituent in a multibarrier approach of universal infection control precautions. Resistance and cross-resistance depend on the disinfectant agent as well as on the microbial species. Prudent implementation of surface disinfection regimens tested to be effective can prevent or minimize adverse effects.
Conclusions: Disinfection must be viewed as a holistic process. There is a need for defining standard principles for cleaning and disinfection, for ensuring compliance with these principles by measures such as written standard operating procedures, adequate training and suitable audit systems. Also, test procedures must be set up in order to demonstrate the efficacy of disinfectants including new application methods such as pre-soaked wipes for surface disinfection.
GMS Hygiene and Infection Control; 8(1):Doc10; ISSN 2196-5226