Managing Cross-Contamination from Shared Equipment and Everyday Items
Infection prevention is built on understanding every potential route by which microorganisms can spread.
While hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and surface disinfection remain fundamental components of any infection prevention strategy, reusable equipment and frequently handled items can also become contaminated during routine use.
From mobile phones and handheld scanners to shared tools and personal protective equipment (PPE), these everyday objects move between people, departments and controlled environments. If they are overlooked within decontamination protocols, they may contribute to the transfer of infectious agents.
Identifying these hidden pathways is an important step towards strengthening biosecurity and supporting safer working environments.
Why Everyday Items Matter
Healthcare facilities, laboratories and industrial environments often have comprehensive cleaning procedures in place for workspaces and fixed equipment. However, smaller shared items are frequently handled throughout the day and may pass between multiple users.
The NHS England National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) recognises that reusable care equipment can become contaminated during use and recommends that reusable non-invasive equipment is appropriately decontaminated between each use, after contamination, at regular predefined intervals, and before inspection, servicing or repair to reduce the risk of transferring infectious agents.
Examples of commonly shared items include:
- Tablets
- Mobile phones
- Barcode scanners
- Handheld radios
- Hand tools
- Keys and access cards
- Safety glasses
- Clipboards
- Reusable PPE
- Portable electronic devices
While each item may appear insignificant on its own, together they represent multiple opportunities for microorganisms to move around a facility if appropriate controls are not in place.
Cross-Contamination Extends Beyond Healthcare
Although infection prevention is most commonly associated with hospitals and clinical settings, contamination control is equally important across a wide range of industries where hygiene and product integrity are critical.
These include:
- Food manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical production
- Laboratories
- Cleanrooms
- Research facilities
- Veterinary settings
In these environments, contamination can result in:
- Product recalls
- Production downtime
- Increased operational costs
- Regulatory non-conformances
- Risks to employee or patient safety
- Damage to brand reputation
Reducing contamination risk, therefore requires consideration of every potential pathway – not just obvious work surfaces.
A Layered Approach to Infection Prevention
There is no single measure that eliminates contamination risk. Instead, effective infection prevention relies on multiple controls working together.
An effective strategy may include:
- Hand hygiene
- Staff training
- Cleaning and disinfection procedures
- Controlled movement between areas
- Appropriate use of PPE
- Environmental monitoring
- Routine decontamination of shared equipment
Each of these measures contributes to reducing opportunities for microorganisms to spread within a facility.
What the Guidance Says
The NHS England National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) recognises that reusable equipment can become contaminated during routine use and should be appropriately decontaminated to reduce the risk of transferring infectious agents.
The guidance also acknowledges that organisations may consider ultraviolet (UV) light technology as part of environmental decontamination for specific pathogens, alongside established cleaning and disinfection procedures.
This reinforces an important principle: effective infection prevention is achieved through multiple complementary measures rather than relying on a single intervention. UV technology should therefore be viewed as an additional layer of protection that can support existing hygiene protocols, rather than replace conventional cleaning and disinfection practices.
Where UV-C Can Complement Existing Protocols
Routine cleaning and chemical disinfection remain fundamental components of any infection prevention programme and should continue to form the foundation of established hygiene procedures.
However, organisations are increasingly looking for ways to improve the consistency and efficiency of disinfecting compatible shared equipment, particularly in busy environments where items move frequently between users.
UV-C germicidal technology offers an additional method of disinfecting compatible equipment without the use of chemicals or leaving residues. Pass-through UV-C chambers can help standardise the disinfection of frequently handled items before they enter controlled environments or between users, helping to strengthen existing infection prevention procedures.
Rather than replacing traditional cleaning methods, UV-C is most effective when integrated into a wider biosecurity strategy.
Closing the Gaps in Your Infection Prevention Strategy
Many organisations already have well-established cleaning procedures, but it is worth asking whether the everyday items that move between people and departments receive the same level of attention as work surfaces and larger equipment.
By identifying overlooked contamination pathways and ensuring appropriate controls are in place, organisations can further reduce risk while supporting safer working environments.
Sometimes, improving biosecurity is not about introducing entirely new procedures. It is about recognising that the smallest, most frequently used items can become the weakest link in an otherwise robust infection prevention strategy.
Putting This Into Practice
Organisations looking to strengthen their existing infection prevention procedures often review how frequently handled equipment is disinfected before entering controlled environments or between users.
UV-C pass-through chambers, such as the BioShift® range, can provide a consistent, chemical-free method of disinfecting compatible equipment as part of a wider biosecurity strategy. Used alongside established cleaning and hygiene procedures, they can help reduce the risk of cross-contamination while supporting operational efficiency.
If you’re reviewing your current infection prevention protocols, consider whether shared equipment and frequently handled items receive the same level of attention as your wider environment.
Evidence Behind This Article
This article has been written using current UK infection prevention guidance and recognised best practice, including:
NHS England – National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025
