Results of a survey of procedures for cleaning and disinfecting ambulances

• Published in: Annali di igiene Vol. 30; no. 5 Supple 2; p. 64
• Main Authors: Nobile, M, Pasquarella, C, Baldovin, T, Brusaferro, S, Casini, B, Cristina, M L, D'Errico, M M, Finzi, G, Montagna, M T, Mura, I, Novati, R, Privitera, G, Ripabelli, G, Schirripa, G, Sodano, L, Vitali, P, Tardivo, S, Teti, V, Torregrossa, M V, Torri, E, Zarrilli, R, Agodi, A, Auxilia, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01.09.2018
• Subjects: Procedures; Ambulances; Cleaning and disinfection; Infection control
• ISSN: 1120-9135
• DOI: 10.7416/ai.2018.2251

In 2014, the Italian Study Group of Hospital Hygiene of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (GISIO-SItI), in collaboration with the National Association of Medical Hospital Managers (ANMDO), conducted a survey on the availability of procedures for cleaning and disinfecting ambulances in order to assess the practices in use. An online questionnaire was prepared through the Survey Monkey® platform and a web link access was sent to a convenience sample of ANMDO doctors working in healthcare management in public and private healthcare facilities. Ninety-six questionnaires were collected (26% response rate). In 73% of cases there was a procedure for cleaning and disinfecting ambulances, which had been produced at a company level (67%) and involved various professionals. In 21% of cases the procedure had been prepared in expectation of an epidemic or following an epidemic (5%). The recommendations had been presented to the staff (90%), in 28% of cases through training events with verification of the knowledge acquired. Monitoring of the implementation of the procedure is planned in the majority of cases (88%), mainly through direct observation (92%). In 67% of cases the tender specifications for ambulance services did not include a section dedicated to cleaning and disinfection and, in the absence of a procedure, this was provided by the hospital in only 51% of case. This survey represented a first step towards the development of guidelines for standardising procedures and providing indications useful for their evaluation and monitoring their implementation.