C diff. transmitted through non-critical items

Pathogens such as C difficile can be transmitted through non-critical items, which means that proper disinfection of these tools is crucial, according to an article on the MD Magazine website.

Non-critical items are those that come into contact with intact skin only and are handled by healthcare facility personnel, often being used on multiple patients, the article said.

A recent report from the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System evaluated the disinfection of noncritical items in the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU staff members.

The study found that non-ICU staff members were more knowledgeable about which personnel was responsible for disinfecting the non-critical items. But only 6 percent of responders could correctly identify a non-critical item, the authors wrote.

Read the article.