The purpose of this document is to address the issues around the measurement of cleaning and its impact on the control of hygiene, infections, and the quality and cost of service delivery.
Existing methods are inadequate and there is a need for simple, rapid, objective methods.
A proven measurement system is described with substantiating data and real case study experience for several applications in many different healthcare settings.
We will discuss:
- Existing methods and their limitations;
- An instant objective measurement system;
- Infection control and environmental hygiene;
- Sterile services and endoscopy;
- Multiple applications across many hospital departments.
In the UK, the NHS spends £725m per year on cleaning, and 90% of the cost of that cleaning is labour. The NHS productivity review (2016) concluded that savings of £93m are achievable in cleaning alone.
The ATP test has been used for >30 years as a direct objective rapid test to verify cleanliness and is recognised by the NHS Research Institute, Department of Health and Health Protection Agency’s Rapid Review Panel, CDC in USA and Danish and Swedish Standard for Hospital Cleaning and Infection Control DS 2451-10 2011. Many published papers show the benefit of using the ATP to verify cleanliness in healthcare including decontamination services.
