HEALTHCARE & HOSPITAL FACILITIES


HOW TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE


Peter Teska, Global Healthcare Sector Expert for Diversey Care explains what we could be doing to reduce the environmental impact of the healthcare sector.


Cleaning and disinfection programmes are an absolute must within healthcare facilities. The World Health Organization reports that at any given time, of every 100 hospitalised patients, seven in developed countries and ten in developing countries will acquire at least one healthcare- associated infection (HAI). To prevent infections and provide patients with a better hospital stay, healthcare organisations should focus on maintaining a clean environment.


One tactic for improving environmental hygiene, or the cleanliness of surfaces, is to use the right disinfectants. However, not all disinfectants are created equally. Healthcare cleaning professionals should consider the following before selecting disinfectant products for their healthcare premises.


1. EFFICACY It is important to select disinfectants


that are capable of killing pathogens of concern. Problem pathogens, such as norovirus and rhinovirus, might not be killed by quat disinfectants. Contact times must be realistically short so that any pathogens present are killed before the surface dries. Disinfectants with long contact times may require reapplication to ensure pathogens are killed.


A recent study published in the American Journal of Infection Control showed that the introduction of an environmental hygiene bundle that included a disposable wiping system pre-wetted with an Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) disinfectant cleaner and a cleaning validation system using a fluorescent marker significantly reduced the rate of HAIs including C. difficile, MRSA, and VRE over a one year period.


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2. THE CLEANING TASK The variety of available disinfectants


has grown in recent years, as manufacturers have developed solutions for specific daily and problem-solving tasks. It follows that it is now more important to match the product to the specific application. Doing so maximises cleaning performance and in turn reduces inefficiencies, poor results, and the need for repeat cleaning.


include chlorine and/or quat-based ingredients are being replaced by products that incorporate alternative, but equally effective, formulations with ingredients such as AHP.


4. BUDGET When correctly specified and used,


multipurpose formulations can lower overall cleaning costs by reducing the number of separate products needed. Further savings can be achieved because multipurpose formulations simplify procurement and purchasing processes, minimise storage, and reduce implementation, deployment, and training costs.


Organisations can further reduce costs when using formulations as super-concentrates in conjunction with dispensing or dilution control systems. These ensure that solutions for spray bottles, buckets, and cleaning machines are prepared accurately and without waste to the ideal concentration for high performance. These closed loop systems are also safer because they prevent users from coming into contact with the product.


Manufacturers can provide advice on the most suitable products from their product lines to use in every situation. They should be able to supply the requisite documentation and evidence to support product claims.


3. PATIENT NEEDS There is a trend towards more


cleaning taking place while patients are present. This means that cleaning processes must be completed safely and efficiently, so as not to create an unpleasant environment or put patients at risk. This is one of the reasons why disinfectants whose formulations


5. STAFF TRAINING The easier a product is to use,


the greater the chance of cleaning compliance. Products should be accompanied by training aids in multiple languages to support members of diverse cleaning teams in their first language. Meanwhile, consistent colour-coded and easy- to-read alphanumeric labels simplify training and deployment. Despite proper training, there are still cleaning and disinfection challenges that may arise. It is therefore important to measure performance to determine if additional training is necessary.


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