Patient environment microbial burden reduction: a pilot study comparison of 2 terminal cleaning methods.

Effective cleaning of the patient environment has been advocated to reduce the risk for nosocomial infection. This pilot study compared 2 terminal cleaning methods, a traditional method in which a disinfectant was applied with a wetted cloth and an alternative method in which the disinfectant was applied using the PureMist system (PureCart Systems, Green Bay, WI). There was no difference in effectiveness, with a mean relative reduction of microbial burden of 84% for the traditional method versus 88% for the PureMist method.