Imagine that you have to go to the hospital. You will likely be treated in an emergency room and then transferred to a ward for treatment and recovery.

Unknown to you, the previous patient in your hospital room was suffering from an infection that was caused by a pathogen that is multi-drug-resistant. This means standard antibiotics cannot fight this bug.

Research shows that you’re more likely to get infected if the room you’re in has a patient who was infected than if the room you are in doesn’t have a patient infected.

A hospital infection may have serious consequences, such as a longer hospital stay or even death.

When the room is thoroughly clean, it is less likely that the pathogen will be transferred from one patient to another.

Read more: 1 in 10 patients are infected in hospital, and it’s not always with what you think.

All Australian hospitals employ cleaning staff who play an important role in patient safety. But some of this cleaning could be more effective.

Our research team created a bundle of evidence-based hospital cleansing initiatives and tested this in 11 Australian hospitals.

We found that it decreased the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. In a recent paper, we estimated that implementing the bundle across 11 hospitals would save more than A$1,000,000 in healthcare costs.

Reducing infection risk

One in ten hospital patients will contract an infection during their stay. The hospital staff is aware of the dangers associated with diseases and takes steps to reduce those risks.

Staff and visitors are still able to transmit pathogens, as these can stay dormant on surfaces (but still be alive) for a very long time. Some pathogens are able to survive in hospitals for several days or even a few months.

By creating a cleaner hospital with fewer dormant pathogens, we can stop the infection cycle.

Cleaning products for hospitals are designed to kill or remove pathogens. The product is only one part of the cleaning process – it is important to use the correct technique. Technique involves following the instructions on the packaging, cleaning the correct areas and not contaminating previously cleaned surfaces.

Pathogens can be found on surfaces that are frequently touched, such as light switches and emergency call bells. Bed rails also tend to have a lot of pathogens. These surfaces need extra cleaning.

Read more: Explainer: what are superbugs and how can we control them?

How frequently cleaning needs to occur in hospitals and the best methods to use are disputed. Decisions are complicated because you can’t see the bugs with the naked eye.

There are many variations in Australia when it comes to hospital cleaning, including the types of cleaning products used, the auditing methods, and the level of training given to cleaning staff.

Cleaning ‘bundles’

Our research team has developed a “bundle”, a collection of hospital cleaning initiatives, based on expert opinions and scientific evidence. This included the use of a fluorescent gel and training for cleaning staff.

The gel is not visible to the naked eye, but it can be seen under UV lights. The fluorescent gel is applied before cleaning surfaces, and auditors use UV lights to determine if a character has been thoroughly cleaned.

If the cleaning was done correctly, there should be no gel visible afterward. According to research, when combined with feedback from cleaning staff, it can improve cleaning.

Even if a room appears to be clean, that doesn’t mean there aren’t bugs. Shutterstock.com

Our cleaning bundle was applied in 11 Australian hospitals. We then examined the cleaning performance and infection rate before and after cleaning. Our approach reduced the risk of an important drug-resistant bacteria (vancomycin-resistant enterococci) by 37%.

The cleaning effectiveness was also improved, as measured by the frequency with which the florescent gel was removed after cleaning. Cleaning of surfaces that were frequently touched in patient rooms enhanced from 64% to 84%.

Cleaning and investing in cleaners

The same amount of money should be spent on improving cleaning practices as it is for expensive new machines and drugs. Cleaning enhances health and reduces infection risk, saving lives and money.

The “bundle”, which contained the anti-infection products, saved over A$1,000,000 in health benefits for the 11 hospitals. This was achieved by reducing the treatment costs and the length of hospital stay.

Cleaning isn’t the only way to combat hospital-acquired infection. Hand hygiene, the identification, and isolation of patients with specific conditions, as well as correct insertion and care of urinary catheters, drips, and other devices are important methods to prevent infection.

Read more: Infections, complications and safety breaches: why patients need better data on how hospitals compare

While the risk of infection for patients will never be zero, cleaning staff play an important role in patient safety. Yet they often go unrecognised.

The next time you visit a medical facility, thank the member of the cleaning staff for their contribution to reducing your infection risk.

Patients should also remember that it is more difficult to clean tables, chairs, and rooms when they are cluttered. Cleaning staff will be able to perform their jobs more efficiently if they reduce clutter.