Myths and facts: What is the evidence for routine environmental sampling---A commentary.

Before 1970, US hospitals conducted scheduled culturing of the air and environmental surfaces. Currently, routine environmental culturing is not recommended. Targeted microbiologic sampling is only recommended for research purposes, outbreak investigations, and when there are validated culture methods and action level based on culture results.The paper is a commentary. The literature was reviewed to find published guidelines that provide recommendations for appropriate microbiologic sampling of the hospital environment based on validated culture methods and provide action levels based on culture results.Microbiologic sampling of the hospital environment is recommended in the following circumstances: Biological monitoring of sterilization processes, cultures of water/dialysate used for hemodialysis, dental waterlines, specified locations in pharmacies performing sterile compounding, surveillance for Legionella, and sampling of duodenoscopes.Health care facilities should only perform routine microbiological sampling of the environment when recommended by guidelines.

Duke Scholars

Author Bobby Warren