Contamination of the Hospital Environmental by Pathogenic Bacteria and Infection Control

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have increased rapidly, and the wide spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria has made the control of HAIs a challenging health problem. Transmission of common pathogens from a colonized or infected patient to a susceptible patient has been reported to occur via the hands of healthcare personnel. Therefore, the priority of infection control policy has been allocated in hand hygiene program, contact precautions, and isolation. However, the transmission routes of pathogens are complicated. Furthermore, recent data suggest that the hospital environment could play a role as an important reservoir, and contaminated hospital surfaces, medical equipment, water, and air could be directly or indirectly involved in the transmission pathways. Therefore, we should reconsider the role of hospital environment control in the management of HAIs as well as developing strategies to reduce the contamination of hospital environment.