Danish Government backs ATP cleanliness standards

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07 Aug

Danish Government backs ATP cleanliness standards

English

It is well accepted that the patient environment is a reservoir for pathogens and a potential source of HCAI.
Cleaning is very labour intensive and costly yet it is poorly measured. Everyone knows that visual assessment of cleanliness is subjective and only detects gross non­compliances. Objective measurement of cleanliness using Hygiena’s ATP test has been proven to be effective and is supported by the Department of Health, NHS Cleaning manual, and CDC in the USA. Now the Government in Denmark has recently accepted and published pass and fail standards for ATP testing. It is the first government to do this and as such leads the way in Europe.

The working group who set the Danish standards looked at the critical risk points in the various care areas within a healthcare setting and set standards for each risk area dependent on risk
factors. Risk factors were defined as those conditions that are predisposed to infections, and for which analysis and/or experience show a need for the management of risk of
infection. Critical risk points were defined as any location, piece of equipment, process, activity or other for which an established satisfactory guiding measure is required to prevent, eliminate
or reduce their risk to an acceptable level.

Risk grades and Hygiene Levels are defined as follows: Risk Grade 3: Highest risk
An infection can easily be transmitted to a susceptible host unless proper precautions are taken

Risk Grade 2: Medium risk
An infection could be transferred to a susceptible host without proper precautions

Risk Grade 1: Lowest risk
An infection may be transmitted to a susceptible host

Hygiene Level 5
Especially high risk in highly demanding care / treatment areas.

Hygiene Level 5 refers to rooms where cleanliness is of paramount importance and cleaning is required to eliminate
/ minimise the risk of spreading infectious agent by direct or indirect contact.

Hygiene Level 4 and 3
Primary patient­related fields / areas.
Hygiene Level 3 relates to areas where cleaning needs to leave a neat and acceptable overall impression and reduce the risk of transmission of infectious
agents by direct or indirect contact.

Hygiene Level 2 and 1
Primarily non­patient­related fields / areas.
Hygiene Level 2 relates to rooms where cleanliness is an aesthetic purpose. The level applies to rooms where care or the treatment of patients does not take place.
The highest risk areas were determined as Hygiene Level 5, where ATP score is measured between 25 and 50 RLU. Below 25 is deemed a pass, between 25 and 50 is seen as a caution and requires further testing or observation. A score of 50 or more is a fail and requires intervention such as reclean. Hygiene Level 4 and 3, in which the outcome is measured between 50 and 100 RLU requires observation. A total of 100 or more require intervention.
These standards mirror what many hospitals in the UK already use as targets. Recently Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust introduced ATP monitoring as part of a three phase monitoring programme to help bring down infection rates. The programme has been a great success.
Andrew Matthews, deputy head of facilities, explained: “We now have a three phase process ­ visual, ATP and UV targeting. The ATP and UV are brilliant. They focus peoples’ minds and show us where we can do better and where we are doing well.”
Hygiena SystemSURE Plus gives an instant reading of exactly how clean or dirty a surface is through the measurement of an energy cell called ATP which is present in anything organic.
If contamination has been left behind after cleaning then the ATP swab and instrument will show this in seconds.

If contamination has been left behind after cleaning then the ATP swab and instrument will show this in seconds.
Martin Lowe, service development manager at Leeds, said: “ATP is almost that perfect blend between cleaning and microbiological controls which combine together to assist in achieving the trust’s targets in reducing infection rates.” Providing results in seconds means that actions can be taken straight away to improve cleanliness levels and overall quality improvement.
“The ATP’s a simple device, easy to use, instant. It’s indisputable proof of the cleaning process for both PASS and FAIL,” added Pam Holroyd, IPC specialist supervisor. “It’s been a big benefit. Nurses like it and patients show a lot of interest.”