The first-ever virus, known as the “tobac-co mosaic virus,” was identified by a Russian scientist in 1898. Since then, more than 5,000 different viruses have been dis-covered. Present in almost every ecosystem, virus-es can affect all types of organisms and are transmitted through a variety of modes. The two basic virus types that can be potentially harmful to humans and exist within a building are enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. “Enveloped” viruses, also known as medium viruses, include human immunod-eficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitus B virus (HBV), herpes and hantavirus. These virus-es get their name because they hide in the “envelope” of the membrane of the infected host cell. Examples of “non-enveloped” or small viruses include poliovirus, norovirus, rhi-novirus or coxsackievirus. Unlike their counterparts, non-enveloped viruses either attach to the host cell or penetrate the membrane entirely. In 1939, Dr. Earle Spaulding of Temple University originally presented the Spaulding Classification scale to the med-ical community in a paper that discussed the disinfection of surgical instruments in a chemical solution. Due to his extensive study of disinfection and sterilization of medical instruments, Spaulding further refined his classification of appropriate treatment of medical devices based upon how a device is used. Substances in the Spaulding Classification scale were classified as low-level, intermedi-ate-level or high-level disinfectants. To develop an effective prevention strate-gy, you must use the best disinfectant based upon your facilityʼs needs. To do this, first determine the appropriate level of disin-fection for high-touch, off-the-floor surfaces. Establish which types of bacteria or viruses are likely to be present and assess whether or not they are potentially commu-nicable through environmental surface con-tact. factors that may affect your program. Budget, training programs, time con-straints and administration may all play a role in the effectiveness of your infection prevention efforts. For instance, in many health care facilities, there is a focus on increasing turnover so more patients can be tended to and cared for. As a result, the environmental services staff is under pressure to turn rooms over more quickly, which may cause them to overlook certain tasks like disinfecting the tops of cabinets or other hard-to-reach places. This can result in an environment favor-able to cross contamination or infection. Factors To Consider In Infection Prevention The next step in developing an effective infection prevention strategy is to identify Circle Product Information no. 219 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 25
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