Clean High-Touch Surfaces
This page serves as a central hub for the tools and resources for Where Do Germs Live: Environmental Cleaning provided by the Toolkit for MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care. These resources have been developed to equip and empower healthcare teams with the knowledge and tools necessary to promote quality skin assessment and bathing of residents.
Presentation: Where Do Germs Live: Environmental Cleaning
This presentation will help viewers—
- Recognize the role of environmental cleaning in the prevention and control of infections.​
- Discuss barriers to proper environmental cleaning​.
- Discuss strategies to overcome those barriers.
Where Do Germs Live: Environmental Cleaning – Slides (PowerPoint, 7 MB)
Where Do Germs Live: Environmental Cleaning – Facilitator Guide (Word, 4 MB)
Teachable Moments and Supporting Materials for Where Do Germs Live: Environmental Cleaning
Access the links below for Teachable Moments and supporting materials related for Where Do Germs Live: Environmental Cleaning.
Teachable Moments:
Cleaning and Disinfection (Word, 4.2 MB)
Provides a distinction between cleaning and disinfection.
Environmental Cleaning of High-Touch Surfaces (Word, 2 MB)
Provides an educational document about cleaning high-touch surfaces.
How Long Do Pathogens Live on Environmental Surfaces (Word, 994 KB)
Provides a visual representation of how long pathogens live on environmental surfaces.
The Case of the Resident With a Chronic Wound and Diarrhea (PDF, 10.2 MB)
Provides a case study about the challenges of cleaning stool.
The Case of the Resident With C. Difficile (PDF, 11 MB)
Provides a case study about disinfection at the bedside.
Supporting Materials:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Basics for Health
Provides a video resource of best practices for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and high-touch surfaces.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Module 11B—Environmental Cleaning—Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training Course
Provides a module for a nursing home infection preventionist training course.
(PDF, 3.4 MB)
Provides a resource for environmental cleaning in healthcare facilities with limited resources.
