Assessing the effectiveness of hospital cleaning using fluorescence: a proof-of-concept study and comparison with ATP...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infection control
• Microbiology and Environmental Hygiene
• Medical Technology Assessment

Background:

• Visual inspection is standard for hospital cleanliness but misses invisible contaminants.
• Invisible contaminants pose health risks and affect patient care perceptions.
• Fluorescence offers a potential method to detect otherwise invisible substances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate fluorescence detection for identifying invisible contamination post-hospital cleaning.
• To compare fluorescence with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a cleaning indicator.
• To assess the reliability of visual checks versus fluorescence in hospital environments.

Main Methods:

• Portable high-intensity blue and ultraviolet light torches used on visibly clean surfaces in NHS hospitals.
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels measured in fluorescent and non-fluorescent areas.
• Statistical analysis using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare ATP levels.

Main Results:

• Invisible fluorescent contamination detected on all examined surfaces.
• Significantly higher ATP levels (P≤0.05) found in fluorescent areas compared to non-fluorescent areas.
• Fluorescence identified residues like cleaning fluids and drug residues, not always detected by ATP.

Conclusions:

• Fluorescence is a valuable tool for detecting invisible hospital contamination missed by visual inspection.
• Relying solely on ATP detection may overlook significant contamination risks.
• Further research is encouraged to integrate fluorescence into hospital cleaning protocols.