Environmental contamination makes an important contribution to hospital infection.

This paper reviews the evidence for survival and transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in healthcare facilities. Environmental surfaces frequently touched by healthcare workers are commonly contaminated in the rooms of patients colonized or infected with MRSA or VRE. Studies document that healthcare workers may contaminate their hands or gloves by touching contaminated surfaces, and that hands or gloves become contaminated with numbers of organisms that are likely to result in transmission to patients. Pathogens may also be transferred directly from contaminated surfaces to susceptible patients. There is an increasing body of evidence that cleaning or disinfection of the environment can reduce transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. Journal of Hospital Infection 2007; 65(Suppl 2 ):50-4.