It has been estimated that approximately one in thirty hospitalized patients will acquire at least one HAI during their visit, underscoring the importance of routine enhanced cleaning and standard infection control measures.
COVID-19 and Increased HAIs
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted healthcare efforts to diminish the presence and impact of antimicrobial-resistant germs that affect a reported 1 in 31 patients annually, though the number is undoubtedly higher.
A steady increase in superbug infections in the U.S. has health officials concerned, especially after a disturbing spike in cases was recorded during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, partly due to the increased use of antibiotics.
Superbug Infections Increase During and After COVID-19 Pandemic
Recent data shows several concerning trends:
An increase in superbug infections is occurring and may experience an enormous spike by 2050.
More than 750,000 people die from antibiotic-resistant infections annually, and that number is expected to reach 10 million by 2050.
In the United States alone, antibiotic-resistant microbes cause more than 2.8 million infections and over 35,000 deaths annually.
Certain pathogens remain hazardous after disposal, even in treated waterways, often by attaching themselves to waste plastics, underscoring the increasing importance of moving to greener, sustainable lifestyles and business operations.
Pathogens and Plastics in the Waterways
A recent study conducted by the University of Stirling in Scotland found that non-lipid coated pathogens, such as norovirus and rotavirus, can survive facility cleaning, disposal, and water system waste treatment protocols by binding to microplastics in the waterways.
A series of recent polls suggest U.S. workers' expectations of and attitudes towards facility cleanliness and safety have changed dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Worker Attitudes Regarding Workplace Health and Hygiene
Data collected from a series of recent polls demonstrate that U.S. office workers, even those who are considered fully vaccinated, are more concerned now with workplace safety and hygiene than before the pandemic.
Despite their numerous benefits, cleaning and disinfectant products are almost exclusively toxic, often corrosive, and sometimes downright deadly when handled inappropriately.
Common Commercial Cleaning Chemical Mishaps
Accidental poisonings due to cleaning and disinfectant product mismanagement are unfortunate and all too common.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, facility cleaning efforts were erroneously focused on the overuse of surface disinfectants at the expense of indoor air quality--a trend that has not been corrected adequately in many U.S. educational facilities.
Public Schools IAQ Problem
Public schools have notoriously suffered from low indoor air quality problems for decades--resulting in a host of short and long-term health challenges for students and teachers.
Americans have become increasingly comfortable with in-person shopping in facilities with a demonstrably superior commitment to enhanced cleaning and infection prevention measures.
Addressing the Increasing Demand for Visibly Clean Facilities in the U.S.
A particular fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns were how American shoppers viewed facility safety regarding surface hygiene and indoor air quality.
According to recent poll data, the U.S. workforce has become substantially more green since the onset of COVID-19--a shift in values that laborers, in the future, expect to see in their workplace.
Office Worker Expectations of Green-Friendly Office Spaces
Post-COVID, workers returning to the office at least part-time have reportedly become greener and more environmentally conscious since the pandemic's beginning.
Enhanced sustainable cleaning methods address several concerns commonly cited by Gen Z and Millennial workers for leaving one organization in favor of another.
The Consequences of The Great Resignation
The Great Resignation is well underway, with millions of workers across multiple industries voluntarily leaving their job for the promise of a brighter future.
Green sustainable cleaning programs have increased in appeal since the pandemic, with current data showing trends will likely become permanent operational fixtures for schools and businesses in the near future.
Moving Forward From Green Cleaning Trends
Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, green sustainable cleaning programs were primarily viewed as an industry trend.