What healthcare workers are saying...

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“The evidence of floor contamination with pathogenic organisms is strong and a range of studies have demonstrated that floors are typically heavily contaminated with bacteria and frequently contamination with health care associated infection (HAI) causing pathogens including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)and Clostridioides difficile (C diff)."

“Munoz-Price investigated improving operating room hygiene and found that Gram negative bacilli were present in 63% of baseline floor samples." 

"Floors were positive for Staphylococcus aureus or Enterococcus species in 63.6% of baseline samples and 66.7% of intervention samples despite use of a phenolic disinfectant on floors.” 

Teska, P. (2021, March 28). Pathogens underfoot can floor patients, health care workers. Infection Control Today. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/pathogens-underfoot-can-floor-patients-health-care-workers

"If bacteria stayed on the floors this wouldn't matter, but we're seeing clear evidence that these organisms are transferred to patients, despite our current control efforts."

"Hand hygiene is critical, but we need to develop practical approaches to reduce under-appreciated sources of pathogens to protect patients"

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201030081545.htm

“Beyond high-touch surfaces: Portable equipment and floors as potential sources of transmission of health care associated pathogens."

- "Disinfection in healthcare facilities typically focuses on high-touch surfaces.

- Portable equipment has been linked to pathogen transmission.

- Emerging evidence suggests that floors could also contribute to transmission.

- Practical approaches are needed to address portable equipment and floors."

Donskey CJ. Beyond high-touch surfaces: Portable equipment and floors as potential sources of transmission of health care-associated pathogens. Am J Infect Control. 2019 Jun;47S:A90-A95. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.03.017. PMID: 31146857.

“Floor cleaning procedures and frequencies were identified as a gap in the literature during the evidence review”. 

“Additional research is needed in perioperative areas to define the role of the floor in disease transmission and recommendations for cleaning procedures and frequencies”

Conner, R., &Burlingame, B. (2016). Guidelines for perioperative practice: Edition 2016. AORN.