Monitoring results of disinfection quality at medical institutions in Changzhou, China, 2015—2019

Objective To investigate the monitoring results of disinfection quality at medical institutions in Changzhou from 2015 to 2019, and to provide a scientific basis for improving the prevention and control of nosocomial infection, disinfection and isolation.

Methods Based on the Hygienic standard for disinfection in hospitals and other related standards, on-site sampling and testing were performed for indoor air, disinfectants in use, hygienic hands, surfaces of environmental objects, sterilization effects of sterilizers, highly dangerous medical instruments and sterilized endoscopes at medical institutions.

Results From 2015 to 2019, a total of 18 728 samples were tested, with an overall average qualified rate of 96.3 % (18 031/18 728). During these five years, the qualified rates of indoor air, disinfectants in use, hygienic hands, surfaces of environmental objects, sterilization effect of sterilizers, highly dangerous medical instruments were 95.7% (2 821/2 948), 97.1% (2 648/2 726), 93.1% (3 535/3 798), 97.3% (4 607/4 733), 97.5% (1 816/1 863) and 99.2% (2 129/2 146), respectively. The lowest qualified rate was sterilized endoscopes(92.4%, 475/514), and there was a significant difference in the qualified rates of disinfection quality between sterilized endoscopes and highly dangerous medical instruments (χ²=92.91, P < 0.001).

Conclusion Disinfection quality of medical institutions at all levels is maintained at a relatively high level in Changzhou, but sterilized endoscopes have the lowest qualified rate of disinfection quality, and it is needed to strengthen the monitoring and guidance of endoscope disinfection.