Healthcare

Pathogens are disease-causing organisms. Pathogens come in a wide range of types and severity of the diseases they cause.

Pathogen Environmental Monitoring is a sampling and testing method for pathogens, spoilage and indicator organisms, and allergens in your facility's overall environment which we will discuss in this course. 

Introduction to
Pathogen Environmental Monitoring (PEM)


PEMP (Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program),
EM (Environmental Monitoring),
EMP (Environmental Monitoring Program), and
EMPC (Environmental Monitoring Pathogen Control).


A Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Program (PEM) is known by many names and acronyms, including...


You can undertake environmental monitoring for certain allergens to ensure that your space is free of allergen residue.


This is a concern if you  were processing allergen-containing and non-allergen-containing items on the same equipment.


Which of the following are the pathogens you should test for?


Introduction to Pathogen Environmental Monitoring

It is vital to collect environmental samples in an aseptic manner to ensure the quality of the testing results.


If you will collect the samples, make sure to be careful and not contaminate the specimens or the laboratory results will not be accurate.


Using one hand (may be ungloved), working from the outside of the bag, carefully move the sponge up to the top of the bag. Squeeze out excess buffer so that the sponge is moist but not dripping.
Using the gloved hand, remove the sponge from the bag, being sure not touch the outside of the bag.
Thoroughly swab the area to be sampled using even but forceful back and forth motions. Swab an area of about 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in).
Carefully replace the sponge into the bag without touching the edges of the opening.
Close the bag by rolling the top down 3 twists and folding in the tabs. Store the sponge at refrigerated temperature until sent to the lab for analysis.
Discard gloves and repeat for each sponge sample collected.
Send to the lab via overnight delivery in a cooler chilled with ice packs.


Sampling Tool #1
Cellulose Sponge in Bag
A small cellulose sponge (about 1” x 2”) is pre-moistened with a transport buffer in a sealed bag. Some
vendors attach a pair of sterile gloves to the sponge bag.


Glove use is optional if hands remain in sanitary condition between samples. Open the bag, and working from the outside of the bag, carefully move the sponge up so that the handle protrudes from the bag.
Using one hand, grasp the handle and remove the sponge so that it does not touch the edge of the opening.
Thoroughly swab the area to be sampled using even but forceful back and forth motions. Swab an area of about 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in).
Carefully replace the sponge back into the bag only far enough so that you can grasp the sponge in one hand from the outside of the bag. Using your other hand, bend the sponge handle 90 degrees back and forth three times then twist handle so that it separates from the sponge. Do not insert your hand into the bag.
Remove the handle and allow the sponge to drop into the bag. Discard handle.
Close the bag by rolling the top down 3 twists and folding in the tabs. Store the sponge at refrigerated temperature until sent to the lab for analysis.
Send to the lab via overnight delivery in a cooler chilled with ice packs.
Repeat for each sponge sample collected.


Sampling Tool #2
Sponge with Handle (“Spongesickle” or “Stick-Sponge”)
A small cellulose sponge is attached to the end of a long plastic handle; the whole unit is contained in a
sealed plastic bag containing a small amount of transport buffer.


Some swabs are premoistened in the carrying tube while others have transport buffer in a small reservoir at the top of the swab handle. Such swabs can be used either dry or wet by breaking the reservoir tab and squeezing buffer into the tube before use.
Carefully twist open the swab and remove from the carrying tube using a gloved hand. Glove use is optional if hands remain
in sanitary condition between samples.
Thoroughly swab the area to be sampled using even but forceful back and forth motions. Swabs are useful to collect samples from nooks and crannies where sponge devices will not penetrate. Carefully replace the swab into the tube without touching the edges of the opening.
Close the tube by tightly twisting the swab. Store the swab at refrigerated temperature until sent to the lab for analysis.


Sampling Tool #3
Swab (“Q-tip” style)


Sampling and Hygienic Zones

Welcome to
Record Keeping and Corrective Actions


Clean and sanitize all equipment, surfaces, and instruments in the area thoroughly.


Collect another sample for areas with high counts.


As needed, re-clean, re-sanitize, and re-sample.


If the high counts continue, take corrective action.


Stop processing in affected area
Limit access to area
Break down and inspect equipment in area
Re swab positive area and surroundings to determine if contamination is localized or spread
Clean and sanitize all equipment, surfaces, and tools in area
Conduct pre-operational inspection and re-swab
Do not restart operations until all tests are negative
Document corrective actions and consider SOP to prevent recurrence
Increase frequency of sampling from weekly to daily
After 3 consecutive days of negative results normal sampling may resume
If problem persists, consider removal of contaminated equipment and replace or redesign


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Pathogen Environmental Monitoring (PEM)

Pathogen Environmental Monitoring (PEM) Lessons

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