Environmental Services

Through funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement (STRIVE) program, four modules were developed to support training for environmental services technicians by APIC subject matter experts and reviewed by subject matter experts from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE). These modules are described below.

APIC was a member of the STRIVE National Program Team and provided subject matter expertise to participating hospitals through resource development, presentations on national webinars, and direct interaction with facilities through in-person presentations and site visits, coordinated by the American Hospital Association’s Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET). The Environmental Services Training Modules and Tools are one of several STRIVE resources APIC created or helped to create. Read more about the STRIVE program at APIC Infection Preventionist: States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement

STRIVE Environmental Services Training Modules and Tools

These materials are downloadable, free of charge. All may be adapted for use at your facility, except for the pre-recorded audio versions of module presentations.

Module 1: Basic Principles of Infection Control for EVS Technicians
This module defines what an infection is, reviews the chain of infection, and discusses how important environmental cleaning is to break the chain of infection.

Tools and Resources In English and Spanish

• A ready-to-use presentation for trainers  English | Spanish
• Learners’ version in PowerPoint format  English | Spanish
• Presentation facilitator notes and guidelines for trainers, for use in live sessions  English
• Narrated audio version of the presentation  English | Spanish
• Flashcards  English | Spanish
• Infographics  English | Spanish
• Checklists for discharge and daily cleaning inspection processes
  • Discharge Inspection  English | Spanish
  • Daily Cleaning Inspection  English | Spanish

Module 2: PPE and EVS: Keeping EVS Team Members, Patients, and Caregivers Safe
This module provides information on what basic personal protective equipment (PPE) is, how to don and doff it, and when and how to use it during routine EVS activities.

Tools and Resources In English and Spanish

• A ready-to-use presentation in PowerPoint format  English | Spanish
• Narrated audio version of the presentation  English | Spanish
• Flashcards  English | Spanish
• Infographics depicting “Do’s and Don’ts” of glove use  English | Spanish
• Checklist for donning and doffing PPE and fit-checking respirator  English | Spanish

Module 3: Chemical Safety for EVS
This module covers safety practices EVS personnel should follow to protect themselves, other staff, patients, and visitors when using chemical disinfectants.

Tools and Resources In English and Spanish

• A ready-to-use presentation in PowerPoint format  English | Spanish
• Narrated audio version of the presentation  English | Spanish
• Flashcards  English | Spanish
• Short PowerPoint on hazard symbols  English | Spanish
• Checklist for setting up an EVS cart to support best safety practices  English | Spanish

Module 4: Surface Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures and Techniques in EVS
This module covers best practices for cleaning and low-level disinfection of environmental surfaces in occupied patients rooms and at the time of patient discharge or transfer, as well as how to evaluate adequate cleaning.

Tools and Resources In English and Spanish

• A ready-to-use presentation in PowerPoint format  English | Spanish
• Narrated audio version of the presentation  English | Spanish
• Flashcards  English | Spanish
• Infographic on cleaning occupied rooms  English | Spanish
• Checklists for monitoring room cleanliness using ATP technology and UV light inspection
  • ATP Technology  English | Spanish
  • UV Light Inspection  English | Spanish

The following links are APIC and external resources on EVS for healthcare professionals.

Implementation Guides and Tools

• APIC Text (subscription required)
  • Chapter 31, “Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization”
  • Chapter 107, “Environmental Services”
  • Chapter 111, “Laundry, Patient Linens, Textiles, and Uniforms”
  • Chapter 113, “Waste Management”

Education and Training

APIC offers a comprehensive collection of clinical education and professional development programs. The following resources are educational opportunities related to environmental services. Visit the Education & Certification page for more educational opportunities.

• Environmental Cleaning: Roles and Responsibilities—APIC Webinar
• How Clean is Clean? The Challenges of Disinfecting Porous and Nonporous Surfaces in Healthcare Environments—APIC Webinar
• “Best” Practices for Surface Disinfection—APIC Webinar
• Knowledge to Action in the Healthcare Environment: Critical Competencies—APIC Webinar
• Role of surfaces in the transmission of emerging healthcare-associated pathogens: norovirus, C. difficile and Acinetobacter spp—APIC Webina

AJIC articles

Search the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) website for more articles on environmental services. To access these articles, you need to first login to the APIC website. Additionally, you can search the AJIC website for articles from the Environmental Hygiene Article Collection.

External resources

• Environmental cleaning for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR
• Upping the game for OR cleaning with monitoring and partnerships—OR Manager article
• Cleaning environment, patient equipment, and medical devices policy—an example by Shore Health System
• Environmental Cleaning Toolkit—Public Health Ontario
• An Infection Prevention and Control Committee report for Environmental Services—Association for the Healthcare Environment
• Infection Prevention and Control Competencies for Environmental Services—Association for the Healthcare Environment

The following links are APIC and external resources on environmental services and infection prevention for consumers.

APIC

• Prevent infections by keeping your environment clean—Monthly alert for consumers
• Keeping your hospital room clean—Monthly alert for consumers
• Clean your home to prevent winter illness—Monthly alerts for consumers
• Clean your hands often—Infection Prevention and You

External resources

• Wash your hands—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Clean care is safer care—World Health Organization