Brushing, matting, rinsing and active systems work in different ways. The 2016 review did not identify a consistently effective shoe-sole disinfection strategy in the included studies.
Soles contact changing surfaces and conditions.
Tread, moisture and attached material change the load.
The threshold can intercept before wider spread.
Behaviour and maintenance complete the strategy.
First question: what are you trying to remove?
Mud and coarse particles require mechanical action; water requires absorption or drying; microbial reduction is a different objective that needs specific validation.
Mats and abrasive surfaces
They are passive, simple and useful against part of the attached dirt. Performance depends on length, material, number of steps and maintenance.
Manual sole cleaning
Brushes, cloths or washing can remove visible material but add time, water management and drying. Results also depend on tread geometry.
Decontamination: what evidence is needed
The 2016 review assessed multiple strategies but did not identify a consistently effective method for disinfecting shoe soles. Any system claiming microbiological performance should demonstrate it under appropriate protocols.
Toward dedicated entry systems
The design question becomes: how can sole treatment be made fast, repeatable and compatible with the normal act of entering? That is the question HYGEN KLINX is evaluating during development.
Different methods, different outcomes
Brushing, wiping, rinsing and walk-off systems work in different ways. Removing visible mud or particles is not the same as disinfection; reducing moisture is not the same as lowering microbial load. Each method should therefore be assessed against the outcome it actually claims.
Why validation matters
The 2016 systematic review did not identify a consistently effective decontamination strategy in the included studies. Assessing a microbiological effect requires a protocol, target organisms, test conditions and repeatability. These data allow methods to be compared against the outcome actually observed.
Sources & evidence
- Shoe soles as a potential vector for pathogen transmission: a systematic review
- US EPA — Controlling Pollutants and Sources: Entry Mat Barriers