Cleaning, Disinfection & Hygiene

Abstract

Rossel et al. (October 2026) investigated multidrug-resistant bacteria in patients and the environment across two ICUs at Zuyderland Medical Center, Netherlands. The findings: • 97.1% of selected environmental multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates came from sink drains: 537 of 553 isolates. Sink drains were the dominant environmental reservoir for the bacteria studied, with genomic and epidemiological links to patients. We must evaluate and implement engineering solutions with demonstrated real-world effectiveness to reduce drain reservoirs and prevent dispersal into care environments.

Abstract

The question is how to address reservoirs in both patient and staff sinks. Franco and colleagues from the CDC and University of Utah studied eight sinks at two hospitals: four in patient rooms and four at staff stations. Combined tailpipe and P-trap biofilm samples contained OPP-C, organisms able to grow on cefotaxime-containing medium, equivalent to approximately 1,860,000,000 CFU/m² in staff sinks versus 550,000,000 in patient sinks (p=0.023). For the same group, concentrations were equivalent to approximately 7,410,000,000 CFU/m³ in staff sinks versus 1,620,000,000 in patient sinks (p=0.001).

Abstract

The isolate from patient E was confirmed as ST42 by WGS, and the isolate from patient D was a different species of NTM (M. fortuitum), suggesting these infections were not part of the same genetic cluster (ST56) as that of patients A, B, and C. This finding does not rule out the possibility of a common infection source in facility X or the health care environment (e.g., a water source). During inspection of facility X in February 2026, lapses in surgical instrument sterilization were identified, resulting in closure of the operating area and confiscation of surgical instruments from surgeon X. CDC and the Mexico Ministry of Health have requested a list of U.S. residents who received care at facility X during April–September 2025, and the investigation is ongoing. Alameda County Public Health Department, Florida Department of Health, Illinois Department of Public Health, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Healthcare Associated Infection/Antimicrobial Infections Program, Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, County of San Diego Health and Human Services, Texas Department of State Health Services, California Department of Public Health, Healthcare-Associated Infections Program, Clinical and Environmental Microbiology Branch, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC. 1Epidemic Intelligence Service, CDC, 2Division of Global Migration Health, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC, 3Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, California, 4Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC, 5General Directorate of Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, Álvaro Obregón, Ciudad de México, Mexico.

Abstract

A study of more than 110,000 surgeries found that adding advanced air purification and sterilization systems to operating rooms did not reduce surgical site infections, postoperative complications or deaths, suggesting that hospitals should instead focus on preventing direct contamination of surgical wounds. We know the bacteria that cause them, but we do not know where the bacteria come from and why patients develop infections. To test the theory that airborne bacteria contribute to surgical site infections and that filtering the air reduces risk, researchers installed two air-purification systems in each of 68 operating rooms for four weeks at a time over the course of several years. Thirty-four operating rooms received an active air-purification system that filtered air and eliminated bacteria and other contaminants, while the remaining rooms received identical inactive units that looked and sounded the same."

Abstract

Formålet er at gøre det lettere for både sundhedspersonale og specialister i infektionsforebyggelse at finde relevant viden og anvende den i det daglige arbejde. Når man arbejder med infektionshygiejne, er det vigtigt, at anbefalingerne er til at finde rundt i og bruge i praksis. Derfor har vi haft fokus på at samle og trimme materialet, samtidig med at de centrale faglige anbefalinger er bevaret," siger Mette Bar Ilan, hygiejnesygeplejerske i Central Enhed for Infektionshygiejne ved SSI. Pleje og behandling foregår i stigende grad på tværs af hospitaler, plejehjem og borgernes egne hjem, og anbefalingerne skal derfor kunne anvendes, uanset hvor patienter og borgere modtager hjælp."