Potential hazard from spray cleaning of floors in hospital wards.

The potential hazard from using contaminated spray cleaning fluid to clean hospital floors was investigated. Eight of 10 sprays in daily hospital use failed the 'in-use' test of Kelsey & Maures. Contamination was due to Gram-negative bacilli, mainly Pseudomonas spp. An experiment showed that freshly diluted cleaning fluid in a new spray container became contaminated in 6 days, although the route of contamination of the fluid is not clear. Air samples and samples from bedding collected during spray cleaning with contaminated fluid showed the presence of Pseudomonas spp. Use of freshly diluted cleaning fluid and daily cleaning of spray containers is recommended.