Which surfaces should receive more frequent cleaning in a healthcare environment?

In a healthcare environment, high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and handrails should receive more frequent cleaning due to their increased potential for germ transmission. These are surfaces that people come into contact with regularly, which makes them hotspots for the spread of infectious agents. Regularly cleaning these surfaces helps to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and contributes to a safer environment for both patients and staff.

Choosing high-touch surfaces for frequent cleaning aligns with infection control protocols that emphasize the importance of minimizing pathogen transmission in settings where vulnerable populations are present. This prevention strategy is particularly vital in healthcare environments where patients may have weakened immune systems and be more susceptible to infections.

In contrast, while other surfaces like floors, windows, storage areas, and waiting room seating have their cleaning protocols, they do not pose the same immediate risk in terms of infection transmission as high-touch surfaces do, making them lower priority in this context.