A researcher from Queens University has found that nearly 40 percent of Canadian infection control professionals do not believe their hospital is "sufficiently clean," according to a press release from the college.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Infection Control, examined how infection prevention and control (IPAC) teams and environmental services (EVS) departments worked together to impact antibiotic-resistant organism rates, such as MRSA

"It is a source of concern for me that 40 percent of infection control practitioners believed their hostpial wasn't clean enough for infection control needs," said Dick Zoutman, the study's lead researcher. "I also think that it's important to note that a good working relationship between IPAC and EVS results in reduced infections."

According to the research, about one-third of IPAC respondents felt that EVS cleaning staff weren't adequately trained to clean to standard. It was also found that the two departments rarely collaborated to zero in on cleaning best practices.

"Overall, this study shows that the environment of a hospital plays a huge role in healthcare and infection control," says Zoutman. "We need to apply some science to the art of cleaning a hospital by improving our processes and auditing these processes to make sure we are achieving the desired results.

To read the press release in its entirety, click here.