Soft surface sanitizing.

pathogenic organisms to patients that soft surfaces need to be included in the organization's routine cleaning activities. It is important to understand that there are differences between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. Only a hard, nonpo-rous surface can be disinfected. Cleaning refers to the physical a product to achieve a soft surface sanitizing claim by the EPA, the manufacturer must demonstrate a 99.9% reduction efficacy on cotton and polyester soft surfaces using test organisms to include S. aureus and Enterobac-ter aerogenes or Klebsiella pneu-moniae only (EPA, 2014b). Products with a soft surface O ne component of a comprehensive infection prevention and control program that is often confusing or overlooked is sani-tizing soft porous surfaces, such as canvas, polyester, nylon, and the like. All soft surfaces have the potential to harbor pathogenic microorganisms and are capable of causing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Pathogens on soft surfaces can survive for prolonged periods of time and can be transferred to the hands and items used or worn by staff and patients who touch a contaminated soft surface, and then transferred to other surfaces, as well as directly to patients. Table 1 contains a list of soft surface items and supplies used when caring for patients in the home or in a facility-based hos-pice setting. The influenza virus has been shown to persist on soft surfaces for several hours (Baker et al., 2001), with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) remaining on fabrics like polyester for up to 2 to 3 months (Neely & Maley, 2000). VRE has been shown to transfer from upholstery and fabric cushions to people (Noskin et al., 2000). The staff's clothing may also harbor pathogenic organisms. One study found that 65% of nurses who treated MRSA patients had MRSA-contaminated uniforms (Borkow & Monk, 2012). See McGoldrick (2014) for a description of strategies for preventing crosscontami-nation via staff's clothing. It is because of these prolonged pathogen survival times and the potential for transfer of Pathogens on soft surfaces can survive for prolonged periods of time and can be transferred to the hands and items used or worn by staff and patients who touch a contaminated soft surface, and then transferred to other surfaces, as well as directly to patients. removal of visible soil and organic contamination by washing or wiping with a detergent and should be performed prior to any sanitization or disinfection procedure so that the product can work …