[Surface decontamination in the control of hospital infections: comparison of different methods (author's transl)].

Using a 1% aldehyde disinfectant the bacterial count was reduced by 84% by scrubbing the floor, by 60% with a wet mop and by 50% with a dry mop. However, two hours after floor disinfection the bacterial count was nearly back to pretreatment when walked on again. Disinfectant mats did not decrease bacterial count on the surface behind them. Plastic overshoes did not influence floor contamination. There was no significant difference regarding the infection rate, in an intensive care unit during a six-month period, between routine floor disinfection and cleaning without disinfectant. It is possible that by doing without routine floor disinfection something like 20 million DM can be saved per year. The World Health Organisation also recommends floor disinfection only immediately after contamination of the floor by infectious secretions.