Is differential cleaning needed for SARS-CoV-2 beyond standard procedures? A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Infection Control
• Environmental Hygiene
• Public Health

Background:

• Healthcare settings pose a substantial risk for indirect transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through contaminated surfaces.
• Understanding effective surface disinfection is critical for preventing COVID-19 spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced cleaning protocols for high-touch surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Focus on optimizing cleaning products, concentrations, contact times, and frequency.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies comparing cleaning/disinfection procedures and frequencies against standard practices.
• Prioritized randomized trials, controlled trials, and interrupted time series analyses (Jan 2020 - Aug 2022).
• Focused on research conducted in healthcare settings.

Main Results:

• Three studies met inclusion criteria, conducted in Iran, China, and the USA.
• Routine and enhanced terminal cleaning significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination.
• Disinfectant efficacy varied based on concentration and surface type.

Conclusions:

• Limited evidence currently supports specific cleaning strategies for reducing SARS-CoV-2 surface transmission in healthcare.
• Combining diverse cleaning methods and disinfectants shows promise for reducing surface contamination.
• Further robust research, particularly randomized controlled trials, is needed.