Disinfection and microbial contamination of important public facilities in shopping places in China from 2020 to 2022

Objective To examine the disinfection and microbial contamination of important public facilities in shopping places in China from 2020 to 2022.

Methods By using stratified random sampling, questionnaire surveys were conducted on the disinfection status of nine important public facilities in 3 491 shopping places across China from 2020 to 2022. The number of total bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus on the surfaces of shopping carts (baskets) and cash registers were measured. The levels of disinfection and microbial contamination of important public facilities in shopping places were compared among years and regions using the χ² test.

Results From 2020 to 2022, disinfection rate was the highest for cash registers (93.96%) and lowest for elevator buttons (78.34%) in shopping places. Disinfection was performed most frequently on buttons or handles of public toilets and least frequently for storage cabinets. A disinfection frequency of ≥6 times/day accounted for 25.50% and 14.25% of all disinfection frequencies in these two facilities, respectively. In general, the disinfection rate of public facility surfaces in shopping places was higher in 2022 than in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, disinfection rate and disinfection frequency of public facility surfaces in shopping places were higher in the Eastern region than in the Central and Western regions. The exceedance rates of total bacteria, coliforms, and S. aureus on the surfaces of cash registers during the three years were 10.58%, 1.51%, and 0.40%, respectively, which were higher than those on the surfaces of shopping carts (baskets) (exceedance rates of 5.25%, 1.08%, and 0.31%, respectively). Total bacteria and S. aureus counts on shopping cart (basket) surfaces and the microbial exceedance rates of cash register surfaces were significantly lower in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the microbial exceedance rates of shopping cart (basket) and cash register surfaces were significantly lower in the eastern region than in the central and western regions (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion There are annual and regional differences in the status of disinfection and microbial contamination of important public facilities in shopping places across China between 2020 and 2022. The excessive microbial contamination warrants more stringent disinfection procedures, especially in public facilities with frequent contact points such as elevator buttons and temporary storage cabinets.