{"title":"Applicability of the ATP assay in monitoring the cleanliness of hospital environments","authors":"Naoaki Ishino , Chiharu Miyaji , Megumi Ogata , Miki Inada , Mayu Nagata , Mayumi Shimamoto","doi":"10.1016/j.idh.2023.09.034","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay is widely used for simple and rapid evaluation of the cleanliness of environmental surfaces. However, there remain concerns regarding the reliability of the ATP assay in hospital settings. This study aimed to assess whether the ATP assay could detect inadequate cleaning within hospital environments as well as monitor the effectiveness of routine cleaning.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The cleanliness of seven types of high-touch surfaces in operating rooms that were routinely cleaned was evaluated by testing the ATP assay and aerobic colony counts (ACC). For pressure redistribution mattresses (Soft-nurse®) that were found to be particularly at risk of infection, cleaning methods were improved, and the effectiveness of these improvements was monitored using the same two methods.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>The ATP assay quantitatively detected contamination on seven high-touch surfaces but showed no correlation with ACC. However, a significant positive correlation between luminescence and ACC was found on one specific surface, allowing for determining a theoretical cutoff value. Additionally, the ATP assay effectively identified the risk of future infection, which the ACC test could not assess.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The ATP assay can monitor the effectiveness of routine cleaning by setting a theoretical cutoff value for each subject. The method provides quantitative and meaningful values when used with an understanding of its limitations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":45006,"journal":{"name":"Infection Disease & Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2023-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Infection Disease & Health","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468045123001074","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay is widely used for simple and rapid evaluation of the cleanliness of environmental surfaces. However, there remain concerns regarding the reliability of the ATP assay in hospital settings. This study aimed to assess whether the ATP assay could detect inadequate cleaning within hospital environments as well as monitor the effectiveness of routine cleaning.
Methods
The cleanliness of seven types of high-touch surfaces in operating rooms that were routinely cleaned was evaluated by testing the ATP assay and aerobic colony counts (ACC). For pressure redistribution mattresses (Soft-nurse®) that were found to be particularly at risk of infection, cleaning methods were improved, and the effectiveness of these improvements was monitored using the same two methods.
Results
The ATP assay quantitatively detected contamination on seven high-touch surfaces but showed no correlation with ACC. However, a significant positive correlation between luminescence and ACC was found on one specific surface, allowing for determining a theoretical cutoff value. Additionally, the ATP assay effectively identified the risk of future infection, which the ACC test could not assess.
Conclusions
The ATP assay can monitor the effectiveness of routine cleaning by setting a theoretical cutoff value for each subject. The method provides quantitative and meaningful values when used with an understanding of its limitations.
期刊介绍:
The journal aims to be a platform for the publication and dissemination of knowledge in the area of infection and disease causing infection in humans. The journal is quarterly and publishes research, reviews, concise communications, commentary and other articles concerned with infection and disease affecting the health of an individual, organisation or population. The original and important articles in the journal investigate, report or discuss infection prevention and control; clinical, social, epidemiological or public health aspects of infectious disease; policy and planning for the control of infections; zoonoses; and vaccination related to disease in human health. Infection, Disease & Health provides a platform for the publication and dissemination of original knowledge at the nexus of the areas infection, Disease and health in a One Health context. One Health recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment. One Health encourages and advances the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines-working locally, nationally, and globally-to achieve the best health for people, animals, and our environment. This approach is fundamental because 6 out of every 10 infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic, or spread from animals. We would be expected to report or discuss infection prevention and control; clinical, social, epidemiological or public health aspects of infectious disease; policy and planning for the control of infections; zoonosis; and vaccination related to disease in human health. The Journal seeks to bring together knowledge from all specialties involved in infection research and clinical practice, and present the best work in this ever-changing field. The audience of the journal includes researchers, clinicians, health workers and public policy professionals concerned with infection, disease and health.