Lurking deep within the recesses of the HVAC systems in many healthcare facilities there may well be a hidden menace. No matter how pristine a hospital may appear on the surface, no matter how recently it may have undergone a deep clean, regardless of how many stringent hygiene protocols have been put in place, unless the air conditioning ducting has been subjected to the same scrutiny it may all be for nothing. To date, most infection control measures have focused on preventing cross-contamination through direct or indirect contact, with hand-washing protocols and surface cleaning measures the principal lines of defence. But there is a high probability that bacteria such as MRSA are being circulated throughout the facility via the air conditioning system, as the article on pages 22-23 describes in graphic detail.
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