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Quantitative characterization of high-touch surfaces in emergency departments and hemodialysis facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2020

Tina Z. Wang*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
Matthew S. Simon
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York Department of Infection Prevention and Control, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York
Lars F. Westblade
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
Lisa Saiman
Affiliation:
Department of Infection Prevention and Control, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
E. Yoko Furuya
Affiliation:
Department of Infection Prevention and Control, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
David P. Calfee
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York Department of Infection Prevention and Control, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York
*
Author for correspondence: Tina Z. Wang, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

An observational study was conducted to characterize high-touch surfaces in emergency departments and hemodialysis facilities. Certain surfaces were touched with much greater frequency than others. A small number of surfaces accounted for the majority of touch episodes. Prioritizing disinfection of these surfaces may reduce pathogen transmission within healthcare environments.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
© 2020 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.

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Footnotes

PREVIOUS PRESENTATION. An abstract summarizing the results of this study was accepted for presentation at the 6th Decennial International Conference on Healthcare Associated Infections, Atlanta, GA, March 26–30, 2020. The conference was canceled, however, due to the COVID-19 crisis. Abstracts will be published in a supplemental issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

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