Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary
Abstract In recent years, there has been increased attention on the importance of healthcare environmental cleaning, including the need to professionalize and support the workforce responsible for performing cleaning. Global agendas and strategies on infection prevention and control (IPC) and water,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01491-5 |
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| author | Molly Patrick Claire Kilpatrick Julie Storr Giorgia Gon Tuan Huynh Phung Manh Thang Damilola Adeniyi Folasade Ogunsola Fatuma Manzi Ir Por Bernice Sarpong Yovitha Sedekia Ma Sokvy Vouchnea Tang Sreytouch Vong Wendy Graham |
| author_facet | Molly Patrick Claire Kilpatrick Julie Storr Giorgia Gon Tuan Huynh Phung Manh Thang Damilola Adeniyi Folasade Ogunsola Fatuma Manzi Ir Por Bernice Sarpong Yovitha Sedekia Ma Sokvy Vouchnea Tang Sreytouch Vong Wendy Graham |
| author_sort | Molly Patrick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In recent years, there has been increased attention on the importance of healthcare environmental cleaning, including the need to professionalize and support the workforce responsible for performing cleaning. Global agendas and strategies on infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation and hygiene highlight the need for improvements to this sector, particularly in resource-limited healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. Correspondingly, several resources have been developed that aim to (1) improve professional training of cleaners and (2) improve implementation of best practices in resource-limited settings. This commentary seeks to provide insight into the barriers and facilitators to implementing these resources, drawing on the practical experience from two initiatives across four countries from 2018 through 2023. Several common barriers were identified across the diverse settings, including (1) low empowerment and status of the workforce, (2) low pay, inadequate staff time for the high workload needed to achieve best practices and high turnover of staff, and (3) a lack of connection and integration of environmental cleaning with IPC and patient safety efforts at the participating hospitals. Despite barriers, local teams identified effective mitigation measures. While considerable time and effort will be needed to truly overcome these barriers, there are opportunities to build upon attention and momentum on this topic and IPC initiatives in resource-limited settings in low- and middle-income countries. We propose several broader actions, all of which require local leadership and context-specific approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd9e05db21ef46c281b993d31d718439 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd9e05db21ef46c281b993d31d7184392025-08-20T02:13:26ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942024-11-011311810.1186/s13756-024-01491-5Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentaryMolly Patrick0Claire Kilpatrick1Julie Storr2Giorgia Gon3Tuan Huynh4Phung Manh Thang5Damilola Adeniyi6Folasade Ogunsola7Fatuma Manzi8Ir Por9Bernice Sarpong10Yovitha Sedekia11Ma Sokvy12Vouchnea Tang13Sreytouch Vong14Wendy Graham15Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionKSHealthcare Consulting LtdKSHealthcare Consulting LtdLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineUniversity Medical CenterCho Ray HospitalCentre for Infection Control and Patient Safety (CICaPS) College of Medicine, University of LagosCentre for Infection Control and Patient Safety (CICaPS) College of Medicine, University of LagosIfakara Health InstituteNational Institute of Public HealthWaterAidMwanza Intervention Trials UnitNational Institute of Public HealthWaterAidIndependent ConsultantLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineAbstract In recent years, there has been increased attention on the importance of healthcare environmental cleaning, including the need to professionalize and support the workforce responsible for performing cleaning. Global agendas and strategies on infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation and hygiene highlight the need for improvements to this sector, particularly in resource-limited healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. Correspondingly, several resources have been developed that aim to (1) improve professional training of cleaners and (2) improve implementation of best practices in resource-limited settings. This commentary seeks to provide insight into the barriers and facilitators to implementing these resources, drawing on the practical experience from two initiatives across four countries from 2018 through 2023. Several common barriers were identified across the diverse settings, including (1) low empowerment and status of the workforce, (2) low pay, inadequate staff time for the high workload needed to achieve best practices and high turnover of staff, and (3) a lack of connection and integration of environmental cleaning with IPC and patient safety efforts at the participating hospitals. Despite barriers, local teams identified effective mitigation measures. While considerable time and effort will be needed to truly overcome these barriers, there are opportunities to build upon attention and momentum on this topic and IPC initiatives in resource-limited settings in low- and middle-income countries. We propose several broader actions, all of which require local leadership and context-specific approaches.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01491-5Healthcare environmentCleaningCleanersInfection preventionTrainingResources |
| spellingShingle | Molly Patrick Claire Kilpatrick Julie Storr Giorgia Gon Tuan Huynh Phung Manh Thang Damilola Adeniyi Folasade Ogunsola Fatuma Manzi Ir Por Bernice Sarpong Yovitha Sedekia Ma Sokvy Vouchnea Tang Sreytouch Vong Wendy Graham Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Healthcare environment Cleaning Cleaners Infection prevention Training Resources |
| title | Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary |
| title_full | Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary |
| title_fullStr | Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary |
| title_short | Environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries, 2018–2023: a commentary |
| title_sort | environmental cleaning barriers and mitigation measures identified through two initiatives in four countries 2018 2023 a commentary |
| topic | Healthcare environment Cleaning Cleaners Infection prevention Training Resources |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01491-5 |
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