TY - JOUR
T1 - Bioluminescence-based hygiene evaluation of public washroom environment
T2 - Repeated measurement of posthandwashing facilities on baseline and before and after cleaning schedule
AU - Lam, Simon Ching
AU - Cheung, Matthew Man Fai
AU - Au, Jessie Kit Ling
AU - Suen, Lorna Kwai Ping
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported by the Squina International Centre for Infection Control, School of Nursing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. We thank for Dr. Margaret O'DONOGHUE and Dr. Joyce Oi Kwan CHUNG's comments and suggestion to sharpen the study as well as Professor Alex MOLASIOTIS's approval and support to consolidate the research area.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Background: The risk of hand recontamination is often neglected after using hand washing facilities, which can increase the spread of pathogens. The study aimed to evaluate the hygienic condition of posthandwashing facilities in public washrooms at different timeslots, particularly those near food courts and restaurants located in shopping malls. Methods: This observational study was conducted in 12 public washrooms that ranged from low-end, middle-end, to high-end category on 3 different timeslots including baseline, T1 (immediate postcleaning) and T2 (1-hour postcleaning, with counting the footfall). Hand–touch surfaces with a high risk of recontamination after handwashing, which included paper tower dispensers, air drying outlets, and exit door handles, were evaluated by the surface adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence method (ATP-value). ATP-values <500 relative light units (RLUs) were considered a good hygiene. Cleaning schedules and footfalls of each sampled washroom were obtained by direct observations. Results: The overall mean ATP value of washroom was 785 RLU (N = 108); the ATP values of female and male washrooms at T2 were 203 and 3,718 RLUs, respectively. The highest ATP value was found on the exit door handles of male washrooms (range = 13-26,695 RLUs, mean = 3,229 RLU). Regarding passed/failed hygiene conditions, there were significant differences in the proportion of exit door handles between genders (P = .018) and timeslots (P = .007) as well as that of paper towel button/screw between timeslots (P= .025). Conclusion: Attention should be paid at the exit door handles of male washrooms, where are high risks of cross and re-contamination.
AB - Background: The risk of hand recontamination is often neglected after using hand washing facilities, which can increase the spread of pathogens. The study aimed to evaluate the hygienic condition of posthandwashing facilities in public washrooms at different timeslots, particularly those near food courts and restaurants located in shopping malls. Methods: This observational study was conducted in 12 public washrooms that ranged from low-end, middle-end, to high-end category on 3 different timeslots including baseline, T1 (immediate postcleaning) and T2 (1-hour postcleaning, with counting the footfall). Hand–touch surfaces with a high risk of recontamination after handwashing, which included paper tower dispensers, air drying outlets, and exit door handles, were evaluated by the surface adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence method (ATP-value). ATP-values <500 relative light units (RLUs) were considered a good hygiene. Cleaning schedules and footfalls of each sampled washroom were obtained by direct observations. Results: The overall mean ATP value of washroom was 785 RLU (N = 108); the ATP values of female and male washrooms at T2 were 203 and 3,718 RLUs, respectively. The highest ATP value was found on the exit door handles of male washrooms (range = 13-26,695 RLUs, mean = 3,229 RLU). Regarding passed/failed hygiene conditions, there were significant differences in the proportion of exit door handles between genders (P = .018) and timeslots (P = .007) as well as that of paper towel button/screw between timeslots (P= .025). Conclusion: Attention should be paid at the exit door handles of male washrooms, where are high risks of cross and re-contamination.
KW - Adenosine triphosphate
KW - Cross contamination
KW - Exit door handle
KW - Footfall
KW - Re-contamination
KW - Shopping mall
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85095999171&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.015
DO - 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.015
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33127437
AN - SCOPUS:85095999171
SN - 0196-6553
VL - 49
SP - 746
EP - 752
JO - American Journal of Infection Control
JF - American Journal of Infection Control
IS - 6
ER -
