Click 'Read more' under each section to view useful research references. You can also view our 'Moments that Matter' articles at the bottom of the page.
Decontamination visibly dirty surfaces
Lydeamore, M. J., Mitchell, B. G., Bucknall, T., Cheng, A. C., Russo, P. L., & Stewardson, A. J. (2022). Burden of five healthcare associated infections in Australia. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 11(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01109-8
Otter, J., & Galletly, T. (2018, July 2). Environmental decontamination 1: what is it and why is it important? | Nursing Times. Nursing Times.
https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/infection-control/environmental-decontamination-1-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important-02-07-2018/
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Decontaminating surfaces after a procedure
Alhmidi, H., Cadnum, J. L., Koganti, S., Jencson, A. L., Rutter, J. D., Bonomo, R. A., Wilson, B. M., Mayer, J., Samore, M. H., & Donskey, C. J. (2019). Shedding of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by colonized patients during procedures and patient care activities. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 40(3), 328–332.
https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2018.342
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Surface decontamination after patient discharge
Carling, P. C., & Bartley, J. M. (2010). Evaluating hygienic cleaning in health care settings: What you do not know can harm your patients. American Journal of Infection Control, 38(5), S41–S50.
https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(10)00406-2/fulltext00406-2/fulltext)
Istenes, N., Bingham, J., Hazelett, S., Fleming, E., & Kirk, J. (2013). Patients’ potential role in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections: Prevalence of contamination with bacterial pathogens and patient attitudes toward hand hygiene. American Journal of Infection Control, 41(9), 793–798.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2012.11.012
Mitchell, B. G., Russo, P. L., Kiernan, M., & Curryer, C. (2021). Nurses’ and midwives’ cleaning knowledge, attitudes and practices: An Australian study. Infection, Disease & Health, 26(1), 55–62.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2020.09.002
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Maintaining indoor air quality
Crawford, C., Vanoli, E., Decorde, B., Lancelot, M., Duprat, C., Josserand, C., Jilesen, J., Bouadma, L., & Timsit, J.-F. (2021). Modeling of aerosol transmission of airborne pathogens in ICU rooms of COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. Scientific Reports, 11(1).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91265-5
de Oliveira, P. M., Mesquita, L. C. C., Gkantonas, S., Giusti, A., & Mastorakos, E. (2021). Evolution of spray and aerosol from respiratory releases: theoretical estimates for insight on viral transmission. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 477(2245), 20200584.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2020.0584
Lee, J., Yoo, D., Ryu, S., Ham, S., Lee, K., Yeo, M., Min, K., & Yoon, C. (2019). Quantity, Size Distribution, and Characteristics of Cough-generated Aerosol Produced by Patients with an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 19(4), 840–853.
https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2018.01.0031
Marr, L. C., Tang, J. W., Van Mullekom, J., & Lakdawala, S. S. (2019). Mechanistic insights into the effect of humidity on airborne influenza virus survival, transmission and incidence. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 16(150), 20180298.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2018.0298
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Access to patient isolation rooms matters
Bloomer, M. J., Lee, S. F., Lewis, D. P., Biro, M. A., & Moss, C. (2016). Single-room usage patterns and allocation decision-making in an Australian public hospital: a sequential exploratory study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 25(15-16), 2200–2210.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13264
Stiller, A., Salm, F., Bischoff, P., & Gastmeier, P. (2016). Relationship between hospital ward design and healthcare-associated infection rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 5(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-016-0152-1
Graves, N., Kiernan, M., & Mitchell, B. G. (2022). A cost-effectiveness model for a decision to adopt temporary single-patient rooms to reduce risks of healthcare-associated infection in the Australian public healthcare system. Infection, Disease & Health, 27(3).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2022.01.004
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Decontaminating surfaces and equipment before a procedure
Zimmerman, P.-A., Browne, M., & Rowland, D. (2018). Instilling a culture of cleaning: Effectiveness of decontamination practices on non-disposable sphygmomanometer cuffs. Journal of Infection Prevention, 19(6), 294–299.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1757177418780997
Lestari, T., Ryll, S., & Kramer, A. (2013). Microbial contamination of manually reprocessed, ready to use ECG lead wire in intensive care units. GMS Hygiene and Infection Control, 8(1), Doc07.
https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000207
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Decontamination of high-touch points
Weinstein, R. A., & Hota, B. (2004). Contamination, Disinfection, and Cross-Colonization: Are Hospital Surfaces Reservoirs for Nosocomial Infection? Clinical Infectious Diseases, 39(8), 1182–1189.
https://doi.org/10.1086/424667
Riddell, S., Goldie, S., Hill, A., Eagles, D., & Drew, T. W. (2020). The effect of temperature on persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on common surfaces.
Virology Journal, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-020-01418-7
Kramer, A., Schwebke, I., & Kampf, G. (2006). How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infectious Diseases, 6(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-6-130
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Patient hand hygiene during key moments matters
Istenes, N., Bingham, J., Hazelett, S., Fleming, E., & Kirk, J. (2013). Patients’ potential role in the transmission of health care-associated infections: Prevalence of contamination with bacterial pathogens and patient attitudes toward hand hygiene. American Journal of Infection Control, 41(9), 793–798.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2012.11.012
Read relevant 'Moments that Matter' article here >
Cleaning equipment between patient use
Alfa, M. J., Dueck, C., Olson, N., DeGagne, P., Papetti, S., Wald, A., Lo, E., & Harding, G. (2008). UV-visible marker confirms that environmental persistence of Clostridium difficile spores in toilets of patients with C. difficile-associated diarrhea is associated with lack of compliance with cleaning protocol. BMC Infectious Diseases, 8(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-8-64
John, A. R., Alhmidi, H., Cadnum, J. L., Jencson, A. L., Gestrich, S., & Donskey, C. J. (2018). Evaluation of the potential for electronic thermometers to contribute to spread of healthcare-associated pathogens. American Journal of Infection Control, 46(6), 708–710.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2017.12.005
Read relevant 'Moments that Matter' article here >
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