Evaluation of environmental surface contamination in medical examination rooms using an ATP measurement system

The objective of this study was to identify high-risk areas for contact infection by investigating incidences of contamination in hospital medical examination rooms and reviewing previous studies on the operating ranges of health care workers and patients. Investigation of contaminants was conducted using an Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurement method (EnSURE® & SuperSnap™; Hygiena, Camarillo, CA, USA）of 12 surfaces in two examination rooms. We detected an increase in contamination greater than 1000 relative light units (RLU) per 100 cm² on the handrail of the doctor's chair, the doctor's desk, and the inner doorknob over the time medical service was provided. The doctor's desk and the handrails of the doctor's chair were highly contaminated, and this correlated with a longer time spent near these surfaces [1]. It was noted that doctors may lean on a handrail or a backrest for fatigue relief during a long medical examination. The extension of the handset was highly contaminated surface with greater than 1000 RLU detected both before and after work. It was speculated that medical workers were not as careful to clean because patients do not contact this place. It was suggested that the strength of contacting pressure make difference in contamination.