Hygiene Monitoring for Covid-19 Prevention

A German study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 viruses can survive on surfaces for up to 9 days. US-American studies, on the other hand, see the maximum survival time at only 72 hours. However, it seems certain that surfaces made of plastic and stainless steel can harbor a particularly high number of coronaviruses. Everyday objects such as doorknobs, handles, or production equipment are mainly made of these materials and are therefore frequently touched by people.

ATP detection is performed with a specific chemical reaction that produces light, called bioluminescence. The amount of this light can be measured with a luminometer. The more relative light units (RLU) measured, the higher the number of biological residues.

In several studies, experts come to different conclusions. The coronavirus is said to be able to survive on surfaces for up to 28 days.

The ATP technology does not directly find specific coronaviruses. But it has been found that there is a significant correlation between hygienic cleaning and low virus counts on surfaces. Therefore, an effective cleaning protocol that is documented by ATP measurements provides a good indication of a reduced risk of virus transmission.

Fully and partially inpatient care facilities must draw up an individual protection and hygiene concept. This has to be adapted to the legal requirements and regulations and includes a risk assessment. In addition to stocking personal protective equipment for staff, the facilities must provide individual hygiene measures for persons in need of care.

In addition, regular hand hygiene must be carried out and permanent surface disinfection must be demonstrated. The hygiene plan must be strictly adhered to, especially in high-risk areas, as a pathogen-free environment is essential in the care sector. Microbiological controls are mandatory and should be adjusted based on the extent and frequency of disinfection.

This applies to routine disinfection, final disinfection, disinfection in the event of an outbreak, and disinfection when ordered by the authorities, as well as to the targeted disinfection of contaminated surfaces. Surface disinfection is an important protective measure to prevent the permanent risk of infections via contaminated surfaces. Regular microbiological ATP tests by HyServe ensure that all measures taken are effective and that patients and staff are protected in the best possible way against the transmission of pathogens through contact with surfaces.

After long lockdowns and travel restrictions, the hotel and hospitality industry is slowly returning to regular operation. Holistic and effective hygiene concepts have become an important safety measure to ensure seamless operations but also to make guests feel at ease.
Furthermore, the hospitality industry is under special regulatory scrutiny and health departments inspect these areas with particular frequency. After the lockdowns, food service establishments had to demonstrate a Covid-19 hygiene concept to be allowed to reopen.

Hotels had to draw up an operational protection and hygiene concept in compliance with current legislation and occupational health and safety regulations. This also includes training employees and monitoring compliance with the operational concept on the part of employees and guests. Sanitary rooms, in particular, must be permanently monitored following the infection control Covid-19 regulations of the individual federal states.

Covid-19 hygiene plans must be adapted to the increased requirements and the intervals between cleaning and disinfection cycles must be shortened and documented in hygiene monitoring. Another important focus is on wipe disinfection of hand contact surfaces as well as hand hygiene.

Surfaces are generally of great importance in the transmission of epidemiologically important germs. Disinfection procedures must therefore be checked, and the results documented. Covid-19 hygiene monitoring for the catering industry ensures that establishments are allowed to remain open, and that guests and employees are exposed to only a minimal residual risk of infection.

Serious illnesses and infections caused by germs must also be prevented in schools and daycare centers. Therefore, strict and complex regulations apply to the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces.

The Lumitester Smart and the associated A3 Test Kits can be used to demonstrate that routine surface is performed in an effective manner.

Hygiene measures in schools require a hygiene plan that includes personal hygiene, room hygiene, and thorough cleaning. At defined points, a test for bioactivity as part of quality control must be performed. The test with the ATP Test Lumitester Smart from HyServe is carried out for ATP+ADP+AMP, which is generally referred to as bioactivity.

Secretions and soiling are removed mechanically from surfaces, making control of cleaning essential. All measures contribute to the implementation of the Covid-19 Hygiene Regulation and are irreplaceable in the context of hygiene monitoring.

Covid-19 Hygiene Measures in the Medical Practice
Patients in medical and dental practices may be asymptomatic. The requirements for the hygiene plan have been extended by the existing Covid-19 pandemic and are updated by the RKI according to the latest data.

Every medical team is currently subject to particularly strict Covid-19 hygiene regulations, as it must be assumed that potentially infectious patients may regularly visit the medical practice.

To protect the health of patients and staff, the recommended minimum distances should be observed, and personal protective equipment must be worn throughout patient treatment.

In the reception area, staff and patients can be well protected from aerosols by installing sneeze and spit guards, but above all, patients should touch as few surfaces as possible. Health authorities publish recommendations for hygiene management in medical practices, which include the appropriate hygiene measures to be taken during the pandemic.

The test results of HyServe’s Lumitester Smart in conjunction with the LuciPac A3 Surface are suitable for demonstrating an efficient Covid-19 hygiene concept. The ATP tests can be used to check door handles, handrails, reception areas, treatment rooms, elevator buttons, sanitary areas, common areas, production areas, or payment systems for microorganisms. If these can be detected on surfaces, the results serve as indicators of inadequate personal hygiene or inefficient disinfection procedures.

Gyms must consider the rules of the general Covid-19 regulations as well as country-specific hygiene rules for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. When it comes to cleaning and disinfection, special requirements of the Covid-19 hygiene regulations must be observed.

In order to offer operators of gyms and fitness facilities security in monitoring the hygiene status, HyServe’s surface tests are available. In sports facilities, the changing rooms, the equipment as well as the course rooms are subject to a high frequency.

It is therefore important to implement a cleaning concept for these rooms depending on the frequency of use. Hygienic cleanliness in sports ensures that bacteria and viruses, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are removed from high-touch surfaces. Furthermore, body fluids, biofilms, and residues from cleaning agents or disinfectants can also provide new breeding grounds for other germs.

HyServe’s ATP tests are uniquely sensitive and detect microbial contamination as well as organic residues. It uses the patented A3 technology, which detects ATP+ADP+AMP, simultaneously.