Another Question and Answer:
Q. In the healthcare or residential setting, what does the “environment” or “environmental surface” mean?
A. The environment refers to the patient or resident’s surroundings. When we talk about cleaning the environment, typically we are referring to cleaning and disinfecting objects, like housekeeping surfaces (e.g., floors, tabletops) and medical equipment. It is particularly important to focus on cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched items, such as bed rails, tray tables, IV poles, call button, monitor screens and controls and cables, pump controls, bedside tables, telephones, carts, toilets, bedpans, sinks, door knobs and levers, light switches, and faucet handles.