「英中对照」提升环境服务（EVS）人员地位：论设立认证卫生专员（CHS）的必要性

Workers cleaning patient rooms are not simply improving appearance. They are reducing bioburden and protecting human health.清洁病房的工作人员不仅仅是在改善外观。他们正在减少生物负载，保护人类健康。

By J. Darrel Hicks, Contributing Writer 作者：J. Darrel Hicks，特约撰稿人

Key Takeaways:要点总结：

• High-touch surfaces can harbor pathogens for extended periods, making thorough, consistent cleaning an important part of preventing infection transmission.高频接触表面可能长时间藏匿病原体，因此彻底、持续的清洁是预防感染传播的重要环节。
• Certified hygiene specialists need training in cleaning and disinfection protocols, chemical safety, cross-contamination prevention and measuring results.认证卫生专员需要接受清洁与消毒规程、化学品安全、交叉污染预防以及效果评估方面的培训。
• Organizations can strengthen infection prevention by fairly supporting EVS professionals and using cleaning audits to improve processes—not punish workers.各机构可以通过公平地支持环境服务（EVS）专业人员，并将清洁审核用于改进流程而非惩罚员工，来加强感染预防。

Simple cleaning of environmental surfaces might become one of the most important defenses in the future battle against infectious disease in hospitals, long-term care, schools, public buildings and community settings. While vaccines, antibiotics and advanced medical technologies remain essential, the basic act of removing contamination from common touchpoints is increasingly recognized as a frontline public health intervention. 对环境表面进行简单清洁，可能成为未来在医院、长期护理机构、学校、公共建筑和社区场所抗击传染病最重要的防线之一。尽管疫苗、抗生素和先进医疗技术仍然必不可少，但清除常见接触点污染物这一基本行为正日益被视为一线公共卫生干预措施。 

This is especially urgent as antibiotic-resistant organisms continue to proliferate. Pathogens can survive on surfaces far longer than many people realize. Some organisms persist on bed rails, door handles, call buttons, counters, light switches, mobile equipment and other high-touch surfaces for weeks or months, and in some cases up to a year. 随着抗生素耐药性微生物持续增多，这一点尤为紧迫。病原体在表面上存活的时间远比许多人意识到的要长。一些微生物可在床栏、门把手、呼叫按钮、台面、电灯开关、移动设备和其他高频接触表面上存活数周或数月，在某些情况下甚至长达一年。 

When hands contact these contaminated surfaces, microorganisms can move quickly from the environment to patients, staff and visitors. In this way, the built environment becomes part of the chain of infection. 当手接触这些受污染的表面时，微生物会迅速从环境传播到患者、员工和访客身上。这样一来，建筑环境就成为感染链的一部分。 

For too long, cleaning has been viewed as a low-skill support service rather than a science-based infection prevention function. That mindset must change. 长期以来，清洁一直被视为一种低技能的支持性服务，而非基于科学的感染预防职能。这种观念必须改变。 

Workers cleaning patient rooms, disinfecting waiting areas or maintaining public restrooms are not simply improving appearance. They are reducing bioburden, interrupting transmission pathways and protecting human health. In the era of emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, environmental services (EVS) professionals deserve recognition, education and professional standards that match the importance of their work. 清洁病房、消毒候诊区或维护公共卫生间的工作人员，不仅仅是在改善外观。他们正在减少生物负载、切断传播途径、保护人类健康。在新兴病原体和抗菌药物耐药性的时代，环境服务（EVS）专业人员理应获得与其工作重要性相匹配的认可、教育和职业标准。 

HFT Recommends: The Disconnect Between EVS and Clinical TeamsHFT推荐：EVS与临床团队之间的脱节

The time has come to develop and support the role of the certified hygiene specialist (CHS). A CHS would be trained not only in cleaning techniques but also in the principles of disease transmission, surface contamination, disinfectant selection, dwell time, personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, cross-contamination prevention and measurement of cleaning effectiveness. Certification would move cleaning from a task-based occupation to a competency-based profession with earnings to match their skills. 现在是时候发展并支持认证卫生专员（CHS）这一角色了。CHS不仅要接受清洁技术方面的培训，还要接受疾病传播原理、表面污染、消毒剂选择、作用时间、个人防护装备、手卫生、交叉污染预防以及清洁效果评估等方面的培训。认证将把清洁从一种以任务为基础的职业转变为一种以能力为基础、收入与技能相匹配的专业。 

This shift is essential because effective cleaning is not just about using stronger chemicals. In fact, misuse of disinfectants can create safety risks for workers, damage surfaces and provide a false sense of protection. 这一转变至关重要，因为有效的清洁并不仅仅在于使用更强效的化学品。事实上，消毒剂的误用会给工作人员带来安全风险、损坏表面，并造成虚假的安全感。 

Properly trained CHSs understand when to clean, when to sanitize and when to disinfect. They know that organic soil must often be removed before disinfection can work. They understand that microfiber systems, color-coded tools, validated processes, safe chemical handling and clear protocols all matter. They also understand that every room and surface does not carry the same risk, so cleaning must be targeted, consistent and measurable. 经过适当培训的认证卫生专员（CHS）懂得何时进行清洁、何时进行消毒以及何时进行灭菌。他们知道，往往必须先清除有机污垢，灭菌才能发挥作用。他们明白，超细纤维系统、颜色编码工具、经过验证的流程、安全的化学品操作以及清晰的规程都至关重要。他们还明白，并非每个房间和表面都带有相同的风险，因此清洁必须具有针对性、一致性且可衡量。 

Measurement is another critical part of the future of hygiene. Visual inspection alone is not enough. A surface can look clean and still harbor dangerous contamination. Tools such as fluorescent markers, ATP testing, microbial sampling and digital auditing systems can help organizations evaluate whether EVS workers are performing cleaning processes effectively. These tools should not be used to punish workers but to improve training, identify process gaps and validate results. 衡量是卫生未来发展的另一个关键部分。仅靠目视检查是不够的。一个表面看起来干净，却仍可能藏有危险的污染物。荧光标记、ATP 检测、微生物采样和数字化审计系统等工具可以帮助机构评估环境服务（EVS）工作人员是否有效地执行了清洁流程。这些工具不应被用来惩罚员工，而应被用来改进培训、发现流程缺陷并验证结果。 

EVS managers also have a responsibility. Infection prevention will only become a reality when cleaning professionals are properly regarded, fairly compensated, adequately staffed and equipped with best-in-class tools. Hospitals and public health institutions must include hygiene specialists in infection prevention planning, product selection and outbreak response. EVS 管理者同样肩负责任。只有当清洁专业人员得到应有的尊重、获得公平的薪酬、配备充足的人员并拥有业内一流的工具时，感染预防才能真正成为现实。医院和公共卫生机构必须让卫生专家参与感染预防规划、产品选择和疫情应对。 

The future of infection control will not be won by technology alone. It also will depend on skilled professionals performing essential work with knowledge, precision and pride. By elevating cleaning professionals to certified hygiene specialists, EVS managers strengthen one of the most practical and powerful defenses against infectious disease. 感染控制的未来不会仅靠技术取胜。它还将取决于技术娴熟的专业人员以知识、精准和自豪感完成关键工作。通过将清洁专业人员提升为认证卫生专员，EVS 管理者强化了抵御传染病最实用、最有力的防线之一。 

J. Darrel Hicks, BA, MESRE, CHESP, Certificate of Mastery in Infection Prevention, is the past president of the Healthcare Surfaces Institute. Hicks is nationally recognized as a subject matter expert in infection prevention and control as it relates to cleaning. He is the owner and principal of Safe, Clean and Disinfected. His enterprise specializes in B2B consulting, webinar presentations, seminars and facility consulting services related to cleaning and disinfection. He can be reached at darrel@darrelhicks.com, or learn more at www.darrelhicks.com.J. Darrel Hicks，文学学士、MESRE、CHESP，持有感染预防大师级证书，是医疗表面研究院（Healthcare Surfaces Institute）的前任院长。Hicks 被公认为与清洁相关的感染预防与控制领域的主题专家。他是 Safe, Clean and Disinfected 的所有者兼负责人。他的企业专注于与清洁和消毒相关的 B2B 咨询、网络研讨会、研讨班以及设施咨询服务。可通过 darrel@darrelhicks.com 与他联系，或访问 www.darrelhicks.com 了解更多信息。