A study published in PLOS ONE examined the effect of a probiotic-based cleaning system on healthcare-associated infection incidence.
Researchers conducted a pre-post interventional study from Jan. 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, in the internal medicine wards of six Italian public hospitals. The intervention involved substituting conventional sanitation with a probiotic-based cleaning system, while maintaining any other procedure influencing HAI control.
Researchers surveyed 11,842 patients and 24,875 environmental samples. They found the probiotic-based cleaning system was associated with a significant decrease in HAI cumulative incidence — from a global 4.8 percent to 2.3 percent, a 2.5 percent drop.
Additionally, PCHS was associated with a stable decrease of surface pathogens, compared to conventional sanitation, with a mean decrease of 83 percent.
"Once confirmed in larger experiences and other target populations, this eco-sustainable approach might be considered as a part of infection control and prevention strategies," study authors concluded.