Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) methods could help in the battle against hospital infections.

Inspired by the popular television drama "CSI," investigators in the Netherlands have trialed methods used by forensic scientists at crime scenes to highlight infection risks in their hospital.

Researchers at Deventer Hospital in London, U.K., used Luminol, a chemical used by crime scene investigators, to detect traces of blood in their hemodialysis unit. Luminol reacts with microscopic amounts of blood to produce bright blue luminescence, which allows investigators to track invisible blood splashes in the environment. The results of this experiment are reported in a new study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection.

The researchers tested their apparently clean unit with Luminol. They found traces of blood on many surfaces including cupboard handles, telephones, computer keyboards, side tables and the floor, even though these surfaces had been cleaned. They expect that these results can be reproduced in other hospitals that plan to use Luminol to search for infection risks.

The group of researchers suggest that based on their research, Luminol could be used as part of a hospital infection control regimen, in order to highlight risks associated with the contamination of the hospital environment with blood. Hospitals could use this technology to stop the spread of infections such as the hepatitis C virus, which can be transmitted via such environmental contamination.

Editors note: What a fascinating concept and one that Infection Control Nurses could initiate to potentially decrease infections. Would be interested if any facilities actually will use this method to monitor cleaning and disinfections procedure