Research Article
Evaluation and Challenges on the Hygiene Quality of Environmental Surfaces and Staff Hands in Elderly Care Institutions in Guangxi, 2024
Tao Chunai
,
Gan Yongxin,
Tang Xiaolan*,
Xiong Jianwei,
Tang Liling,
Lu Xiayu,
Zhang Hongmei,
Xu Chengbao,
Chen Lianping,
Qin Shengwei,
Wang Jianglian
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2026
Pages:
1-7
Received:
7 August 2026
Accepted:
24 August 2026
Published:
15 September 2026
Abstract: The environmental quality of elderly care institutions is directly associated with the health of their residents. The elders are particularly vulnerable to environmental risk factors. However, deficiencies in environmental disinfection are common across many elder care institutions. Targeted research on the environmental quality of these facilities is of substantial practical significance for the protection of the health of elderly residents. In this study, 37 elderly care institutions across Guangxi were surveyed between August and December 2024. Frequently touched environmental surfaces and staff hands were sampled, and the total number of aerobic colony-forming units (CFU) were determined. The total number of aerobic colony count on each sample ≤ 10 CFU/cm2 is defined as qualified. A total of 1312 samples were collected. The overall qualification rate of the samples was 60.44%, with a qualification rate of 66.70% for environmental surfaces and 40.63% for staff hands. The qualification rate of tables and chairs (46.04%) and public activity utensils (48.31%) in public activity areas were relatively low. The qualification rate of total aerobic colonies on nurses' hands was the highest at 77.14%, while the qualification rates on the hands of cleaning staff and cooks were lower, at 30.95% and 7.84% respectively. The hygiene quality of environmental surfaces and staff hands in the surveyed elderly care institutions is substandard. Measures should be introduced to standardize the management and improve the hygiene quality of elderly care institutions.
Abstract: The environmental quality of elderly care institutions is directly associated with the health of their residents. The elders are particularly vulnerable to environmental risk factors. However, deficiencies in environmental disinfection are common across many elder care institutions. Targeted research on the environmental quality of these facilities...
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