Assessment of Disinfection Efficacy on Bacterial Contamination of Hospital Surfaces - China, 2007-2022

The study aims to monitor the dynamics of bacterial contamination on hospital surfaces and assess the effectiveness of disinfection procedures for controlling bacterial contamination in hospitals and protecting patient safety.

This survey was conducted in sentinel hospitals across 31 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) in China from 2007 to 2022. Surface samples were collected from each site before and after disinfection. Bacterial concentrations were measured using the pour plate method, while pathogenic bacteria were isolated and identified using selective media.

The overall qualified rate for total plate count was 85.7% (41,474/48,367). Pathogenic bacteria were detected in 577 (5.2%) of the 14,665 samples. Significant differences were observed in the qualified rate of total plate count (χ ²=14.627, P<0.05) and the positive rate of pathogenic bacteria (χ ²=266.700, P<0.05) among primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals. Significant differences were also found in the qualified rate of total plate count among four environmental classes (χ ²=775.700, P<0.05) and seventeen departments (χ ²=1606.000, P<0.05). The qualified rate of total plate count after disinfection (89.5%) was higher than before disinfection (81.8%), while the positive rate of pathogenic bacteria after disinfection (3.8%) was lower than before disinfection (4.3%).

Routine disinfection significantly reduces microbial contamination levels on hospital surfaces. Microbiological monitoring of hospital surfaces is a valuable tool for assessing environmental contamination and the effectiveness of disinfection procedures.