Hospital cleaning: considerations for designing and maintaining a successful environmental cleaning program

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> There are nuances and complexities associated with designing and implementing cleaning programs in hospitals and healthcare. As such, like many aspects of infection prevention and control, a multimodal approach to environmental cleaning is recommended. <h3>Objectives</h3> In this communication, we examine various factors that must be considered when creating a meaningful and sustainable environmental program for hospitals and healthcare. <h3>Sources</h3> A literature review was conducted in PubMed using terms: environmental cleaning, cleaning, hospital, healthcare, infection. <h3>Content</h3> In this review, considerations for the development of a hospital (healthcare) based cleaning program are discussed. Topics include differences between cleaning and disinfection, a risk assessment, cleaning procedures, product choice, implementation, evidence from randomised control trials and gaps in evidence. <h3>Implications</h3> The growing body of evidence highlights that environmental cleaning is a crucial, though complex, aspect of preventing healthcare-associated infections. Hospital investments in cleaning should also recognise and provide tangible support for the critical role cleaning staff play in ensuring patient safety. Ongoing investment in evidence-driven, multimodal cleaning programs is essential to reducing infections and safeguarding patients in hospital environments.