Defending the Surface Microbiome

Dancer, Stephanie J.

Abstract

The recent article appealing for a review of decontamination practices in UK hospitals misunderstands basic cleaning principles and fails to acknowledge the environmental impact of universal disinfection.1 While this is a predictable reaction to the rising tide of multi-resistant pathogens, it will encourage increasing reliance on biocidal products. Lack of awareness of contamination does not justify universal disinfection, simply because pathogens are, and always have been, microscopic.1 The article clearly supports the ‘kill-all’ philosophy when it comes to the lethal threat from healthcare surfaces.

Citation

Dancer, S. J. (2024). Defending the Surface Microbiome. Journal of Hospital Infection, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2024.07.022

• Journal Article Type: Letter
• Acceptance Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-11
• Deposit Date: Nov 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 9, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Hospital Infection
• Print ISSN: 0195-6701
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2024.07.022