Public Comment - AORN Guideline for Environmental Hygiene

You are invited and encouraged to review and comment on the AORN Guideline for Environmental Hygiene, which will be available for public review and comment December 5 through January 5 at Public Commenting | AORN. This guideline is a collection of evidence-informed practice recommendations that underscore the importance of a bundled or multimodal approach to environmental hygiene for reduction of pathogen transmission in the perioperative setting with a focus on a multifaceted strategy for environmental cleaning -- recognizing that coordinated interventions are more effective than single measures in addressing the complex, multifactorial nature of infection transmission in health care settings. Guidance is provided on key elements to be implemented concurrently, including 

• the selection of effective cleaning and disinfection products, 
• standardized cleaning protocols, 
• health care personnel training and education, 
• performance monitoring/feedback, and 
• communication strategies to elevate the importance of environmental hygiene.

This guideline was formerly titled Guideline for Environmental Cleaning. The title change is intended to better convey the multifactorial and coordinated focus of the guideline update. In this guideline, environmental hygiene means: the practice of maintaining a clean and safe environment to prevent the spread of pathogens and infections involving a multimodal approach that includes optimal cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment, education and competency assessment of personnel, use of effective products, communication of its importance, and quality assurance measures.