Hygiene conditions in residential homes for the aged must be surveyed by the Public Health services according to German legislation (Bundesseuchengesetz, Law for Protection against Infectious Diseases). We report here on the data of the routine controls of the public health department in Frankfurt am Main in all of the 31 residential homes for the aged of the city. Results: In 1989, a special plan for cleaning and disinfection was available in one home only, whereas a hygiene plan was not available in any of the homes. Up to 1998, plans for cleaning and disinfection were established in 29 of the homes, and more than 50 % of them had fulfilled their hygiene plan. The supply and maintenance of dispersers for disinfectants, the usage of disinfectants and the knowledge regarding proper disinfection and sterilisation procedures could be improved. The same was true of the kitchens: there, up to 1998 testing of samples set aside for later reassessment was properly done in most of the homes. Conclusion: Hygiene in the homes and the knowledge of the staff members were markedly improved during the last years. Some of the most relevant hygienic problems are today: wearing private clothing instead of special working clothes, or deficits in the knowledge of the management of MRSA-colonised residents.
