AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 35, Issue 9 , Pages 569-573 , November 2007

Microbiologic evaluation of microfiber mops for surface disinfection

  • William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, Chapel Hill, NC
    • Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH, Division of Infectious Diseases, Bioinformatics Building, 130 Mason Farm Road, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030.
    • ,
  • Maria F. Gergen, MT (ASCP)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, Chapel Hill, NC
    • ,
  • David J. Weber, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, Chapel Hill, NC
    • Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

References 

  1. Spaulding EH. Chemical disinfection of medical and surgical materials. In:  Lawrence C,  Block SS editor. Disinfection, sterilization, and preservation. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1968;p. 517–531
  2. Rutala WA, Weber DJ, Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities: recommendations of CDC. MMWR. In Press.
  3. Ruden H, Daschner F. Should we routinely disinfect floors?. J Hosp Infect. 2002;51:309
  4. Rutala WA, Weber DJ. The benefits of surface disinfection. Am J Infect Control. 2004;32:226–231
  5. Environmental Protection Agency. Using microfiber mops in hospitals. Environmental Best Practices for Health Care Facilities 2002; November.
  6. Polonsky D, Roill JD. Old mops die hard: should you microfiber for infection control sake?. Infect Control Today. 2004;July:24–28
  7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration . Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens: final rule. Fed Regist. 1991;56:64003–64182
  8. Sehulster L, Chinn RYW. Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities. MMWR. 2003;52:1–44
  9. Ayliffe GA, Collins BJ, Lowbury EJ, Babb JR, Lilly HA. Ward floors and other surfaces as reservoirs of hospital infection. J Hyg (Lond). 1967;65:515–536
  10. MacDougall KD, Morris C. Optimizing disinfectant application in healthcare facilities. Infect Control Today. 2006;June:62–67
  11. Gant V, Rollins M. Towards microbiologically cleaner hospitals with ultramicrofibre: change the cleaning culture, and minimize the risk. J Hosp Infect. 2006;64(Suppl):S51
  12. Anderson RL, Carr JH, Bond WW, Favero MS. Susceptibility of vancomycin-resistant enterococci to environmental disinfectants. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1997;18:195–199
  13. Rutala WA, Stiegel MM, Sarubbi FA, Weber DJ. Susceptibility of antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant hospital bacteria to disinfectants. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1997;18:417–421
  14. Lehman D. Microfibers, macro benefits: health care facilities discover microfiber mops and cloths. Health Facility Manage. 2004;January:42–44

 This work received no funding, and there are no financial disclosures to report.

PII: S0196-6553(07)00524-X

doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2007.02.009

AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control
Volume 35, Issue 9 , Pages 569-573 , November 2007

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