Hospital's 'supermops' replaced

The dusters were first used at the hospital in January 2006

Mops and buckets of bleach are being used to clean wards at a hospital after so-called revolutionary supermops failed to combat infections.

Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley has introduced the method of bleach cleaning to deal with an outbreak of Clostridium difficile.

The microfibre dusters were trialled in 2006 at the hospital, which won the trust's Cleanest Ward title.

At the time microbiologists said infections were less likely to spread.

The fabric used in the microfibre mops was regarded as heralding the end of buckets filled with chemicals.

'Attract more dirt'

But in a statement, the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Patients who have Clostridium difficile have quite often moved around the hospital.

"Therefore, bleach cleaning ensures that Clostridium difficile spores are eliminated and that the hospital remains clean to the highest standards.

"A decision is yet to be made as to whether this form of cleaning will remain in the longer term."

Microfibre is 100 times smaller than a human hair and contains about 220,000 fibres per square inch, the hospital said.

The mops reportedly attracted more grease, dirt and moisture than conventional cloths although interchangeable mop heads could be used in different areas in the hospitals.

The Trust announced in January 2006 that the microfibre system would be rolled out to its three hospitals after successful trials.

The Department for Health had evaluated the earlier trials of the system in a London hospital and said at the time that it should be available to NHS hospitals.