Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between frequency of wiping with disinfectant and decrease in bacteria on environmental surfaces in general wards. In the surgical ward of 1 facility, the numbers of bacteria for on multiple environmental surfaces were investigated. Large numbers of living bacteria were detected on the surfaces of a toilet seat, a washing operation panel, and around the faucet in a washhand stand, located in the general ward restroom for patients. Six medical institutions participated in a study of the number of times per day for wiping with disinfectant and the decrease in bacteria in these three places. Two restrooms of each facility were divided into the A group (wiping only once a day in the morning) and the B group (wiping twice a day, morning and evening). Environmental surface wiping continued for 5 days. Specimens were gathered from the three places before wiping on the morning of the first day, second day, and fifth day, and total number of the bacteria, number of living bacteria, adenosine triphosphate (following ATP level) were measured. Wiping methods were unified in 6 facilities, with the wipe immersed in a peroxy-potassium hydrogen sulfate (oxidizer) combination agent. The numbers of living bacteria on the environmental surface of a washing operation panel, and around the faucet in a washhand stand decreased in the B group compared with the A group (p<0.05). The ATP level decreased on the environmental surface of a washing operation panel, and around the faucet in a washhand stand in the B group compared to the A group (p<0.05). The number of living bacteria around the faucet in a washhand stand did not significantly decrease just after wiping with disinfectant. On multiple investigation points of the general ward restroom, the number of living bacteria on the environmental surface were significantly decreased by increasing the frequency of wiping with disinfectant from once to twice a day.
