Organizations are making significant progress with their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, but their leaders might not realize that facilities need to be a part of the overall DEI strategy. Employees with physical disabilities, or who are neurodiverse, may find parts of the workday that are routine for others—like using the restroom—particularly challenging. Companies have a tremendous opportunity to boost their DEI efforts by making their facility restrooms more inclusive. Consider the information presented in this article to learn why the need for inclusive restrooms is significant and what steps your organization can take to ensure all employees can access proper hygiene. Don’t overlook hidden hygiene barriers Barriers to quality hygiene practices in public restrooms are often not obvious and affect more people than we realize. A 2024 survey conducted by professional hygiene brand Tork, a part of hygiene product manufacturer Essity, found almost one in three Americans face barriers to washing, including injuries, health conditions, or physical abilities. The condition of public restrooms can also discourage proper hygiene practices. According to the survey, one in three Americans cite dirty conditions as a barrier to using restrooms, including the restrooms in their workplace. This barrier can seriously impact employee mental health, workplace satisfaction, and business performance. Providing hygiene-inclusive, well-functioning workplace restrooms can help retain staff and maintain high employee satisfaction. Without these accommodations employees are more likely to leave the company altogether; one in six respondents to the 2024 Tork Insight Survey said they have left a job due to poor restrooms. Even among employees who stay, restroom issues comprise 45% of all office building complaints, more than any other reason, the Tork survey reported. Providing barrier-free hygiene in workplace restrooms is critical to ensure staff are comfortable in the office environment so they can do their best work. Assess employee hygiene needs Facility and company managers should take proactive steps to ensure the hygiene offerings in workplace restrooms will keep employees safe and happy. First, set up a meeting with the organization’s DEI leaders to better understand the company’s holistic strategy and how providing inclusive hygiene in public restrooms can play a role. Engage with employee resource groups (ERGs) about the topic of inclusive hygiene through a survey or questionnaire. This step offers the opportunity to hear firsthand about the barriers your team members might be facing, and how you can help them. Remember to keep employees’ comfort in mind by providing anonymous feedback tools for those who want to keep personal information private. Additionally, be sure to consult cleaning staff, who might also face barriers in their everyday tasks. Consider remedying these issues by providing high-capacity cleaning products and tools that have intuitive, ergonomic designs, and are easy-to-use. Start with small changes Next, take a close look at your existing restroom facilities—you may be surprised by the barriers you find. The 2024 Tork Insight Survey found that although 93% of company leaders and managers think it is important to provide inclusive hygiene in restrooms today, less than 50% consider implementing many of the accommodations that make hygiene more accessible, like gentle soap and accessible dispensers. Company decision makers might not view hygiene offerings as a place to act on their DEI strategy, or facility managers may not know where to begin to implement such changes. But restroom updates need not be a complete overhaul, as there are small changes you can make that will have a big impact. When considering your hygiene product offerings, think of providing soaps and hand sanitizers that are dermatologically tested to be mindful of those with skin sensitivities, like eczema. If you have hand dryers in your restroom, also offer hand towels for people who are sensitive to loud noises. Lastly, ensure that restrooms are regularly cleaned by leveraging data-driven technology, such as smart sensors, that identify areas that need attention in real-time. This technology will ensure your maintenance staff can deliver efficient and effective cleaning. It will also provide reassurance to restroom patrons who have a phobia of bacteria, struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or are especially sensitive to dirty environments. Beyond providing inclusive hygiene, it’s important to raise awareness about the importance of it among employees and demonstrate your commitment to inclusive hygiene throughout the workplace. One way to do so is by implementing signage about inclusive hygiene elements in your restroom, such as a small sticker on dispensers to indicate that they are touchless. Boost employee productivity through DEI DEI is a major pillar of modern business, and it is crucial to think about all the ways it can apply to your business and workplace environment. Expanding your DEI strategy to include facility restroom hygiene shows that you care about employees’ health and are providing a quality environment to support them in delivering their most effective work. Take the next step in your organization’s DEI journey by ensuring inclusive hygiene in your facility’s restrooms through meaningful employee engagement and quality product offerings. It will make a difference for your business and the lives of your employees.
Washing our hands with soap and water is one of those tasks that we learn early in life. We learn to wash our hands before meals, after using the restroom, before holding a baby, and after coughing, sneezing, and blowing our nose. Many of us are even taught to wash our hands for a full 20 seconds, something that was strongly reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t seen a public health campaign, watched a commercial, or heard a catchy jingle about the importance of handwashing. While it’s great that handwashing is getting the love and attention it deserves, it raises the question of why hand drying isn’t. After all, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, and Harvard Medical School state the importance of hand drying after handwashing. Yet, no commercials or catchy jingles encourage us to do it. Strong data supports hand drying. In a 2023 Consumer Reports article, a physician from Mount Sinai Doctors Ansonia in New York City shared that damp hands can spread 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands. CDC statistics show that in the U.S., more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year resulting in 35,000 deaths. And according to researchers at the University of Westminster in London, when we thoroughly dry our hands with a paper towel after washing them, we decrease the bacteria on our hands by up to 76.9%. Make hand drying a habit Despite the variety of data in support of thorough hand drying, are consumers aware of it? Are they heeding its advice? A recent GP Pro survey on consumer handwashing and hand drying behavior in public restrooms found that just 55% of consumers believe the most effective way to clean their hands is to wash with soap and water and dry thoroughly, leaving nearly half who don’t consider the efficacy of hand drying. Further, when asked how clean they consider their hands to be when they’re unable to dry them through traditional means, more than one-third of consumers said very clean and more than two-thirds said clean enough. Perhaps we need to change the vernacular. When we encourage our employees and facility inhabitants to wash their hands regularly, what we really mean is for them to wash and dry their hands. Washing is stated, drying is implied. By not stating it aloud are we doing a disservice to the importance of hand drying? Do we need to coin a new word or phrase that encompasses both handwashing and drying, like washadry (wash and dry) or cleanwel (cleanse and towel)? Maybe we need to rename those public restroom stickers to say, “Handwashing and Drying Steps” or “Steps for Clean Hands.” If we intrinsically know that we should dry our hands after washing them, why aren’t we? Perhaps we need to build up our habit-making muscles. According to a 2021 article in the Harvard Business Review, roughly half of our daily actions are driven by repetition, which makes developing positive habits so important to our wellbeing. The article lists several steps for developing a habit, such as setting intentions and creating a schedule. It also suggests a dedicated commitment will drive incremental progress. Provide options for drying Although nearly half of the survey respondents don’t believe that drying hands is essential to having clean hands, 67% said not having what they need to wash and dry their hands in a public restroom negatively impacts their perception of the facility. This finding has relevance for facility managers and custodians. Regardless of whether consumers know they should dry their hands, regardless of whether we help make hand drying a habit, and regardless of whether consumers actually want to dry their hands, if no way exists for them to do so in a public restroom, the facility’s perception takes a hit. Fortunately, technology solutions are readily available to help ensure consumers have a way to thoroughly dry their hands when away from home. We’ve all been in restrooms where the paper towel dispenser is broken or empty, forcing us to use toilet paper or our clothing to dry them, or simply walk out with wet hands. One solution to this conundrum is automated, high-capacity paper towel dispensing systems that automatically switch to a new roll when the first roll runs out. Some of these dispensers include technology to help reduce paper towel jams. Smart technology is another solution for keeping restrooms stocked with paper products and other supplies. Internet of things (IoT)- connected dispensers send alerts to custodians when the dispensers are running low on paper towels, ensuring restrooms remain functional. These solutions help improve the likelihood that consumers will always have access to paper towels, which not only improves hand cleanliness and hygiene but preserves a facility’s perception. Look for a helping hand At the end of the day, we each bear responsibility for the hand hygiene information sources we trust and for our personal away-from-home hand hygiene behaviors and habits. But facility managers bear the responsibility of partnering with manufacturers who can provide a helping hand in ensuring the most effective hand hygiene habits.
Commercial restrooms can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. But more than just the germs, it’s a customer’s perception of a less-than-clean restroom that can turn them away from a business. According to a survey by Zogby Analytics, 55% of consumers are unlikely to return to a business after a bad restroom experience, leaving a devastating impact on sales. Baby changing stations built into restroom sinks are an innovation that can improve user experience and boost your facility’s image. However, it’s crucial for facility managers to keep their restroom sink stations well-maintained to keep patrons coming back to a hygiene-friendly space. It starts with the surface The trend to include baby changing stations in restrooms has become more popular due to the growing societal recognition of the need for family-friendly spaces. Now more than ever, it’s important that parents and caregivers have the necessary facilities to tend to infants and children comfortably in a public setting. As a result, commercial restroom manufacturers are providing customizable sink options to ensure everyone feels comfortable in the restroom. And when it comes time to customize sinks for baby changing stations, the right surface can make all the difference. Nonporous materials such as quartz support both the longevity and overall hygiene of sinks and built-in baby changing stations. Quartz sinks with rounded edges feature a seamless and smooth surface that can be easily cleaned and disinfected, providing a sanitary environment for parents and infants. Solid surface materials like quartz are also highly durable and resistant to stains and scratching. This makes them ideal for high-traffic areas like commercial restrooms, where baby changing stations need to withstand frequent use and potential abuse over time without showing significant wear and tear. Durable surfaces streamline maintenance and give cleaning crews time back to tend to other parts of the building. Customizing your clean Cleaning and maintenance teams can benefit from the wide range of sink customization options—beyond just surface materials—to help them do their job more efficiently. Slips and falls in the restroom are typically a direct result of guests dripping water on the floor as they go from the sink to paper towel dispensers or hand dryers to dry their hands. This problem is eliminated with the introduction of integrated sink systems with a faucet, soap dispenser, and hand dryer, all within arm’s reach in the sink basin. Not only does this design help to keep restrooms safer for patrons, but it saves maintenance teams from tending to wet floors. Other customizable sink options include top-fill soap dispensers. Maintenance professionals typically need to go underneath the sink to refill soap reservoirs, but top-fill dispensers eliminate this. Built-in trash chutes and paper towel holders help to keep sinks clean and trash-free as well. Countertops and fixtures alike are now customizable in a wide range of colors and finishes, allowing facilities to match the baby changing station with the overall aesthetic of the restroom. This flexibility creates a cohesive and visually appealing environment that provides guests with a positive impression of the restroom and the venue as a whole. As one of the most visited rooms in any commercial building, the restroom goes a long way toward leaving a positive lasting impression. Going touch-free with fixtures Nothing makes cleaning faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers easier than making them touch-free. Preference for touch-free restroom products has greatly increased in recent years, with consumer behavior driving the change as society becomes more conscious of hand hygiene. This past Memorial Day weekend, airline travelers broke the record for the number of people screened at U.S. airports, with the Transportation Security Administration reporting 2.9 million people, according to the Associated Press. With this amount of foot traffic in airports, cleaning manual sink stations and faucet handles to keep them at an adequate hygiene level would place an overwhelming strain on maintenance teams. Not only do touch-free faucets provide less surface area for cleaning crews to maintain, they also provide parents with a sense of comfort knowing that their hands will be sanitary as they attend to their infant.
Europe and Asia have been experimenting with personalized concepts in public restrooms for more than a decade due, in part, to a geographical emphasis on restroom aesthetics and premiumization. Rightly so, many of these concepts elicit a “That’s so cool!” reaction. For example, some away-from-home restrooms have fixtures that let users select their preferred lighting effects and music, and some offer toilet seats that can be adjusted for height and temperature. Options also exist for individualized in-stall gaming experiences and digital ads, sanitizer dispensers that sense the size of a user’s hands, and smart toilets that analyze urine to predict illnesses and provide diet and exercise recommendations. Personalization roadblocks As cool as these concepts are, many reasons exist why they have not taken hold in public restrooms across the United States. Here are just a few: Siloed innovation: No “one-stop-shop” emerges where the various restroom personalization options can be identified, analyzed, and purchased. Rather, the companies developing these unique solutions are siloed, and products are marketed and sold independently. This makes transformative and far-reaching personalization difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. High purchase cost: Personalized public restroom offerings are still in their infancy, which, as is the case with many new products or technologies, means they add significant incremental costs to restroom design. Along that same line, public restrooms are currently designed to meet the general needs of the average person because that is most cost-effective. A restroom that adapts to individual wants and needs is currently cost-prohibitive. High maintenance cost: Not only are current personalized solutions themselves costly, but so is their maintenance and upkeep. With more technology, moving parts, and bells and whistles, a high probability arises that something could break down or require service. These personalized solutions also require a high degree of product and technology knowledge and savvy on the part of maintainers, which could add pressure to pre-existing labor shortages in the U.S. Fear of Big Brother. Solutions that collect personal information are designed with security in mind and with an eye on safeguarding personal information at all costs. But Americans don’t have much of an appetite for anything that suggests “Big Brother” is watching. For this reason, a public toilet knowing a user’s name, age, weight, and diabetes status might not receive a warm welcome. Prioritization: Aesthetics and premiumization of the public restroom aren’t at the top of U.S. facilities’ nor the public’s priority lists, at least not in the lavish vein they are overseas. While users appreciate good design, they value products and features that help provide an efficient, hygienic, and frustration-free restroom experience. And facilities value solutions that improve custodian productivity and reduce costs. For these reasons, U.S. aesthetics and premiumization tend to lean toward understated design, touchless fixtures, and smart technologies that help ensure the restroom is consistently clean and well-stocked. Technology priorities As the aforementioned barriers are expected to keep U.S. demand low for personalized restrooms, you may be curious as to what’s on the horizon for restroom innovations. Consider the following options: More touchless features: The introduction of automated touchless fixtures, features, and dispensers has transformed the public restroom experience by driving convenience and hygiene while also reducing waste and increasing cost savings. Lights turn on and off automatically, toilets flush with movement, paper towels dispense with the wave a hand. No restroom of the future scenario will bring the use of touch back into prominence. Voice activation: Spoken demands, rather than hand waving, to activate a touchless dispenser or fixture could be part of the next iteration of touchless restroom design. This solution offers numerous benefits, including the ability for a user to request a specific amount of paper towels or a desired water temperature. Voice activation does present challenges, though, including the din of a noisy restroom obscuring a spoken request or—on the flip side—the word “flush” setting off a symphony of toilets flushing in an otherwise empty restroom. Visual cues: One of the most frequent complaints from restroom users is an empty or broken product dispenser, a problem that is made worse when the user, who is typically looking to get in and out quickly, must migrate from dispenser to dispenser in search of soap or a paper towel. Visual cues, such as a red or green indicator light, let restroom users quickly determine if a dispenser is in service and ready for use. Visual cues are also beneficial to maintenance crews, who can immediately identify if a dispenser is out-of-order or needs to be restocked. More connections: Smart restroom technology will continue to gain a foothold as facilities realize that a connected restroom benefits both users and custodians, not only in high-traffic venues but also in restaurants, malls, and healthcare facilities. Additional restroom products beyond dispensers, faucets, and flush valves could soon be connected, creating an end-to-end connected restroom experience that meets users’ expectations every time. Optimized flow: The general layout of the public restroom has remained unchanged for decades. Users enter, walk past a sink or set of sinks, reach a stall or set of stalls, and reverse back to exit. But this layout, as well as the placement of dispensers and trash bins, is rarely optimized to the space, creating bottlenecks and traffic jams. New restroom designs could soon incorporate curved walls, angled urinal stations, or clearly defined one-way aisles to improve overall flow and efficiency. Only in your dreams Personalized restroom solutions are intriguing and impressive. They’re fun and fantastical. But until they’re grounded in making the public restroom experience more hygienic, more efficient, and more trouble-free for users and maintainers, they will remain a thing of fantasy for America’s away-from-home restrooms.
Tork PeakServe® Continuous™ Hand Towel System sets a new standard for high-traffic dispensing, delivering a better-quality experience for guests and for cleaning staff. Research shows that dirty, overcrowded restrooms are guests’ primary concern at high-traffic venues like arenas and transportation hubs—even more than long lines. Tork PeakServe is designed to better serve high-traffic venues and improve the guest experience. The system is fully compatible with Tork EasyCube® facility management software, the first to market smart facility management software using technology to drive operational efficiency, increase quality and customer satisfaction, and improve staff engagement. With continuous flow technology delivering a towel quickly and smoothly, the Tork PeakServe system serves guests in three seconds—quicker than jet air drying time—so guests spend less time in the restroom. And, with compressed towels, Tork PeakServe holds up to 2,100 towels per dispenser and serves up to 600 more guests between refills. This gives cleaners a peace of mind to focus on other important tasks, without fear of product runout. Get your restroom crowd-ready with Tork PeakServe! Visit torkusa.com today to learn more, stop by booth 6631 during ISSA, and vote for Tork PeakServe in the ISSA Innovation Awards!
Evolve with EcoShell™ The stylish & wholly unique EcoShell™ universal air freshener provides flexible fragrance options using revolutionary Clip and go, clip and throw™ technology. The stylish EcoShell™ universal air freshener is a non-aerosol, VOC exempt scent solution that brings a variety of locations ‘out of their shell’ – evolve your space with EcoShell™. Eddie World chooses Vectair for their visitor experience Eddie World, based in Yermo, CA, labeled as ‘California’s sweetest destination’ is the premier travel center in the United States. At Eddie World, they want to completely redefine how people perceive gas stations. Hence, the biggest passion for them is their extreme dedication to clean and comfortable bathrooms. Ed Ringle, Owner of Eddie World, says; “We want our customers to have a pristine and perfect restroom experience each and every time they visit.We chose Vectair as their products work, we have no bad odors in the restrooms and our bathrooms smell great.” Recyclable vs. Biodegradable – what’s the difference? Here at Vectair, we recognise that the environment is important, and dedicate our time ensuring our products and industrial processes are recyclable where possible, ethical, environmentally friendly and economically viable. With that in mind, what is the difference between recyclable materials and materials that are biodegradable? Both sound good and both usually come with green, eco-friendly looking labeling, so where do the differences lie? Presenting the Professional Passive Program™ Vectair Systems Inc., has launched the “Professional Passive Program™”. The program includes VOC exempt products that all provide fresh fragrance without the need for batteries, aerosols, harmful solvents or propellants. These are Airloop™, Vectair Wee-Screen™, the World’s first triple action & dual fragrance urinal screen - Vectair P-Screen™, VAZE™ and the multi-award winning Vectair V-Air® SOLID. Vectair ‘Nose’ how to attract visitors with scent Attract new customers. Reach new audiences. It’s all about creating memories & moments that stay in the mind for more than a few hours. Could it be, that scent is the most powerful sensory trigger? With scent marketing, we can create scents to connect with a brand, allowing brands to reach new audiences, in new ways. Scent Marketing is an ever increasing tool that’s used to engage and attract new audiences – but how does it work?
Tork PeakServe sets a new standard for high-traffic dispensing, delivering a better quality experience for guests. With continuous flow technology delivering a towel quickly and smoothly, dispensing serves guests in three seconds—quicker than jet air drying time—so guests spend less time in the restroom. And, with compressed towels, Tork PeakServe holds up to 2,100 towels per dispenser and serves up to 600 more guests between refills. Get your restroom crowd ready with Tork PeakServe! Visit torkusa.com today to learn more, stop by booth 6631 during ISSA Show 2018, and vote for Tork PeakServe Continuous Towels in the ISSA Innovation Awards!
ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, revealed the 2024 ISSA Achievement Awards honorees. The annual awards program recognizes cleaning and facility solutions industry professionals who are committed to driving the industry forward through their positive contributions in their businesses and beyond. These four honorees will be recognized Nov.19 during the ISSA Spotlight Event and Awards ceremony at ISSA Show North America 2024, which takes place Nov. 21-24 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. “As ISSA continues to champion excellence in the cleaning and facility solutions industry, we are grateful for the dedicated individuals who drive innovation and uphold the high standards that define our association,” said Matthew Schenk, ISSA 2024 Board President. “Congratulations to this year’s Achievement Award honorees. I look forward to honoring their remarkable contributions at the upcoming celebration in Las Vegas.” The 2024 Achievement Awards and their recipients are: The ISSA Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual who, in the opinion of the ISSA board, deserves recognition for substantial contributions to the advancement of the industry and/or to ISSA over a significant period. This year’s recipient is Walter Dethlefsen, Network Services Co chief operating officer. Over his 40-year career, all with Network Services, Dethlefsen has brought together the top independent distributors, manufacturers, and customers to create lasting partnerships and business growth. He has a remarkable ability to connect people and find common ground. The Jack D. Ramaley Industry Distinguished Service Award, reserved for individuals with at least 10 years of outstanding service to the professional cleaning industry, will be presented to Carey Jaros, GOJO CEO. Jaros exemplifies the values that define our industry. Her character, professionalism, kindness, and innovative thinking shine through in all she does. Jaros is a strong advocate for cleaning and facility solutions, consistently giving back to the industry by mentoring, supporting emerging leaders, and championing women in our field through the ISSA Hygieia Network. She generously shares her time and expertise in countless ways, making an impact that resonates across our community. The Manufacturer Representatives’ Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes individuals who support manufacturer representatives, the industry, and ISSA, will be awarded to John Carroll of TPC Enterprises. Carroll’s professional journey began in 1973, where he built a solid foundation in direct sales for various manufacturers. By 1992, Carroll transitioned to become a manufacturers' representative, providing support to the industry even after his retirement. His passion for fostering growth continued in 2023 when he took on a new role as an industry consultant, helping emerging manufacturers make valuable connections with established reps. The ISSA Rising Star Award in Honor of Jimmy Core acknowledges one of the class of 30 ISSA Emerging Leaders who has made positive contributions to their organization and the industry. Konstantin Ekelman, BradyPLUS director of sales, receives this year’s honor after being selected through an industry voting process. Ekelman brings a unique blend of professionalism, humility, and innovation to his role. He leads a highly respected team of sales professionals, earning admiration from colleagues and customers alike. His approach is built on fostering strong relationships, treating everyone like extended family. His care for both his team and clients forms the foundation of his leadership, creating a culture of trust and growth. Join ISSA in celebrating these four Achievement Awards recipients at the ISSA Spotlight Event and Awards ceremony on Nov. 19 at 9:00 a.m. PST at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Register now for ISSA Show North America 2024 here. For Las Vegas hotel and travel discounts, visit www.issashow.com/en/travel.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recovered more than US$53,000 in back wages and damages from a residential and commercial cleaning service in Columbia, South Carolina, that misclassified 59 workers as independent contractors. Investigators with the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division found Finichel LLC, operating as Finichel Cleaning Services, paid employees straight-time rates for all hours worked over 40 instead of the time-and-a-half premium for overtime hours as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer also failed to keep records of the amount of time worked by employees as required by law. Back wages and liquidated damages recovered: $53,044 for 59 workers. “Misclassifying employees as independent contractors undermines workers’ rights,” said Jamie Benefiel, Wage and Hour Division district director in Columbia, South Carolina. “If workers are misclassified as independent contractors, they don’t get paid overtime or have access to employer-provided health and retirement benefits. They also don’t have access to family and medical leave.” “If workers or employers need help understanding this, they should reach out to the Department of Labor or go to our website and get the information they need,” Benefiel added. The FLSA requires that most employees in the U.S. be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at not less than time and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
A new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) describes the outcome of a shift in hospital screening protocols for Candida auris (C. auris), a dangerous and often drug-resistant fungal pathogen that spreads easily in hospital environments. A comparison of screening results and patient outcomes before and after the protocol shift at Mount Sinai Brooklyn demonstrated the value of broader screening of high-risk patients. As a result of expanded screening, more cases were caught early, enabling infection prevention and control teams to isolate them before they could infect other patients or contaminate shared hospital equipment. C. auris is an emerging fungal pathogen, first identified in 2009 and now found globally. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health agencies recommend screening patients admitted to the hospital to identify anyone colonized by the pathogen, many different screening approaches exist. Broader screening catches more cases, but it requires more resources and can be impractical in healthcare facilities where patients cannot easily be isolated while results are generated. The study was triggered by the case of a single patient. The patient was moved from a skilled nursing facility to the Mount Sinai Brooklyn hospital in 2022; after more than two months at the hospital, the patient was diagnosed with a C. auris infection. The patient had not been screened for C. auris upon admission because the hospital’s screening protocols at the time classified the patient as low risk. After diagnosis, the hospital conducted a full outbreak investigation, testing 118 people who were directly exposed to the patient or shared equipment with the patient. The investigation identified eight additional patients who tested positive for C. auris. Given the time and resources required for the investigation, the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control Department adjusted its recommended C. auris screening protocols for new patients, expanding them to include all admissions from skilled nursing facilities or patients who had been in such a facility within the past month. After using the new protocols for one year, they compared outcomes for that year to the nine-month period prior to the screening change. The study spanned 591 patients who were screened for C. auris; that includes 34 patients with the previous screening approach and 557 patients screened under the expanded protocol. The positivity rate increased from 1.8% to 2.4%, indicating that more cases were being detected with the broader screening approach. More specifically, the previous criteria would have flagged 53 patients as high-risk, and nine of them would have tested positive for C. auris. The expanded protocol added 538 more patients, five of whom tested positive but would not have been identified through the old screening protocol. Ultimately, the new protocol identified eight cases that would have been missed, representing a significant threat to other patients and the hospital environment. Test results were returned within three days, allowing the team to identify cases quickly and implement appropriate isolation, contact, and disinfection precautions to prevent outbreaks. “Early identification of patients colonized with C. auris allows us to protect other patients and helps to prevent the spread of the pathogen to the hospital environment and shared equipment,” said Scott Lorin, MD, Mount Sinai Brooklyn president and an author of the study. “Notably, we saw no spread of this infection from the eight patients identified by the expanded screening protocols who would have been missed by our prior protocol. When you consider how many other people they came into contact with during their hospital stays, that’s a lot of patients kept safer by the implementation of broader screening. This expanded screening protocol has allowed us to detect Candida auris cases earlier, helping us prevent potential hospital outbreaks.”
ACS Infectious Diseases published new research demonstrating the surprising level of resistance to cleaning agents of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), a pathogen of particular concern in high-risk healthcare environments. Led by Emory University in Atlanta, the study identified new biocides, chemicals, or microorganisms used to control harmful microorganisms, and that are highly effective against P. aeruginosa, including a novel compound developed at Emory University in collaboration with Villanova University in Pennsylvania. The researchers describe how these biocides work differently than most disinfectants currently in use and pave the way for future innovations in disinfectant research. More than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the U.S each year, leading to more than 35,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC names multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa as one of seven pathogens causing infections that increased in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic; infections remain above pre-pandemic levels. Worldwide, P. aeruginosa causes more than 500,000 deaths annually and has been named a pathogen of critical priority by the World Health Organization.