環境／用物的微生物監測對感染管制重要性

The Importance of Environmental and Equipment Microbiological Surveillance in Infection Control

感染發生源自宿主、微生物與環境交互作用。除提升宿主免疫力外，環境及用物監測對控制感染至關重要。COVID-19研究指出，環境表面污染與後續確診病例呈正相關；醫院中抗藥性細菌傳播亦與清潔不徹底有關，ATP檢測、螢光標記與細菌培養等均能精確反映污染狀況，可以當作改善工具。內視鏡及重複使用呼吸管路若消毒不完全，可能引發後續感染。此外，用水系統亦可能累積病原菌，透過適當消毒可降低菌落數，減少因水傳播的風險。監測措施會增加成本與作業難度，但持續精準監控有助及早介入、斷絕傳播鏈，提升病人安全及醫療品質。因此，我們必須平衡經費與安全，累積更多有效的實證，持續投入監測與改善措施。

 

Infections arise from interactions between the host, microorganisms, and the environment. Beyond enhancing host immunity, environmental and equipment monitoring is crucial for infection control. Studies on COVID-19 have shown a positive correlation between environmental surface contamination and subsequent confirmed cases. The spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in hospitals has also been associated with inadequate environment disinfection. Methods such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing, fluorescence markers, and bacterial cultures can accurately assess contamination levels and serve as tools for improving infection control practices. Failure to properly disinfect endoscopes and reusable respiratory tubing may lead to subsequent infections. Additionally, water systems can serve as reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria; appropriate disinfection can reduce bacterial colony counts and mitigate the risk of waterborne infections. Although monitoring measures increase costs and operational complexity, precise and continuous surveillance facilitates early intervention, interruption of transmission chains, and improvements in patient safety and healthcare quality. Therefore, it is essential to balance financial resources with safety considerations, accumulate robust evidence, and continue investing in monitoring and improvement strategies.