Which stakeholder is primarily responsible for cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas during ICRA?

• A. Infection preventionist
• B. Facilities engineering
• C. Environmental services
• D. Project management

Answer: (C)

Environmental services teams are the frontline for cleaning and decontamination of patient care areas. They are trained to perform routine and terminal cleaning, select appropriate disinfectants, ensure surfaces are cleaned according to protocols and contact times, and pay special attention to high‑touch areas and rooms under isolation. This role is focused on reducing environmental contamination and transmission risk in the patient environment, working under guidance from infection prevention to determine what needs cleaning and how often. Other roles support the environment in different ways—facilities engineering handles building systems like ventilation and room pressurization, infection prevention focuses on surveillance and policy, and project management oversees construction and changes—while cleaning operations fall to environmental services.