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A Quantitative Approach to Defining “High-Touch” Surfaces in Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Kirk Huslage ,
William A. Rutala ,
Emily Sickbert-Bennett  and
David J. Weber
Kirk Huslage*
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
William A. Rutala
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Emily Sickbert-Bennett
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
David J. Weber
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, UNC Health Care, CB 7600, 1001 West Wing NCMH, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (dhuslage@unch.unc .edu)
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Abstract

Fifty interactions between healthcare workers and patients were observed to obtain a quantifiable definition of “high-touch” (ie, frequently touched) surfaces based on frequency of contact. Five surfaces were defined as high-touch surfaces: the bed rails, the bed surface, the supply cart, the over-bed table, and the intravenous pump.

Type
Concise Communcations
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 31 , Issue 8 , August 2010 , pp. 850 - 853
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2010

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