AUTHOR=Wright Justin R. , Ly Truc T. , Brislawn Colin J. , Chen See Jeremy R. , Anderson Samantha L. C. , Pellegrino Jordan T. , Peachey Logan , Walls Christine Y. , Bess Jessica A. , Bailey Anne L. , Braun Katie E. , Shope Alexander J. , Lamendella Regina 

TITLE=cleanSURFACES® intervention reduces microbial activity on surfaces in a senior care facility

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.1040047

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.1040047

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>As one of the top public health challenges outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), estimates report that hospital acquired infections (HAIs) claim the lives of 99,000 Americans and cost healthcare providers over $28 billion each year. In addition to underlying conditions related to age, elderly patients in long-term care facilities are at an elevated risk of acquiring HAIs. A large percentage of HAIs is attributable to contaminated surfaces and medical devices. To that end, this study utilized a metatranscriptomic sequencing workflow (CSI-Dx™) to profile active microbial communities from surfaces in the HJ Heinz Community Living Center, a long-term care facility in the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System. Swabs were collected from high-touch surfaces (Keyboard, Ledge, Workstation on Wheels, Worksurfaces) before (Baseline) and after cleanSURFACES<sup>®</sup> were installed at 4 timepoints (Day 1, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 30). Microbial richness was significantly reduced after cleanSURFACES<sup>®</sup> intervention (Wilcoxon test with Holm correction, p=0.000179). Beta diversity results revealed distinct clustering between Baseline and Post-intervention samples (Adonis, p&lt;0.001). Reduction in bacterial (<italic>Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis</italic>, Staphylococcus <italic>hominis</italic>) and fungal (<italic>Malassezia restricta, Candida albicans</italic>, <italic>Candida glabrata</italic>, and <italic>Candida orthopsilosis</italic>) expression of opportunistic pathogens was observed. Additionally, a subset of taxa (<italic>Corynebacterium</italic>, <italic>Cutibacterium acnes</italic>, and <italic>Ralstonia pickettii</italic>) was present in specific Post-intervention timepoints and surface types. This study revealed decreased microbial activity, highlighting the potential for the combinatorial application of cleanSURFACES<sup>®</sup> and regular decontamination practices to reduce the prevalence of microbes causing HAIs.</p>