A recent study in the American Journal of Infection Control  suggests the need for strict contact precautions when cleaning a hospital room that was occupied by a patient with, or suspected of having, COVID-19,  according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.

Education about infection prevention and maintaining adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) was also emphasized by the study. Because of the shortage of PPE and the fears of cleaners, room cleaning, and disinfection were sometimes not performed as required.

The data come from 13 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to two hospitals in South Korea in March.

The study showed environmental contamination of the COVID-19 patients’, viruses have been found on various hospital objects, and these surfaces can be sources of nosocomial transmission via direct contact. 

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it may be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your face.

Read the full Infection Control Today article.