The prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is essential in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) units, which concentrate immunocompromised patients in inherently high-risk environments. The hospital cleaning team plays a leading role in maintaining safe environments, but faces several challenges such as staff turnover, lack of professional recognition, and difficulty absorbing technical content. Ludic educational strategies emerge as an alternative tool aimed at reinforcing knowledge and motivating these professionals’ engagement.

To assess the impact of ludic educational actions on training the hospital cleaning team, focusing on HAI prevention in an HSCT unit.

The study was conducted with 11 members of the hospital cleaning staff working in an HSCT unit of a high-complexity private hospital in São Paulo, in February 2025. The intervention included a ludic activity with a practical bedside simulation using a fluorescent marker, awareness-raising dynamics, and group challenges addressing topics such as terminal cleaning techniques, critical areas, patient criticality, and communication with the clinical team. Team performance was subsequently monitored through direct observation of practice and analysis of environmental nonconformities using the fluorescent marker.

After the intervention, there was an improvement in adherence to the terminal cleaning validation process in the unit, with the rate of beds classified as “good” increasing from 20% in February to 42.9% in March. There were reports of strengthened relationships between support and multidisciplinary teams, as well as greater professional recognition and retention of these workers. The initiative was well accepted by the professionals, with a notable increase in engagement and motivation.

The adoption of ludic strategies directed toward the cleaning team proved effective for training and for strengthening their commitment to HAI prevention. In highly complex settings such as HSCT, educational actions tailored to the staff profile contribute to patient safety by integrating technical knowledge with professional appreciation.