Unclean Ducts Could Cost Lives
Richard Norman, Managing Director of Indepth Hygiene, talks us through the ins and outs of hospital ductwork, and why careful cleaning could save you money as well as patients.
Debris accumulating in ductwork can propagate allergens, mould and provide a breeding ground for insects and even vermin. At best, poor air quality can result in impaired staff productivity and an unpleasant environment; at worst, it’s a serious health risk. Particles found in the air we breathe vary greatly in size; the greatest health hazard from particles comes from the smallest ones – less than 10 microns across – because we can easily inhale these small particles into our lungs. Studies in the United States and Europe show a correlation between levels of particles in the air and the number of people who die each year.
In hospitals, poor air quality can be detrimental not only to staff and visitors, but can also impair the healing process and add to the risk of cross infection and contamination. Dust and debris found in un-cleaned ductwork, together with temperature and humidity levels, have been linked to the risk of growth and spread of MRSA and other micro- organisms in hospitals. It has also been suggested that these micro- organisms can thrive and feed on the flakes of dead, dry human skin which is a component of hospital dust that builds up in ventilation ducts.
According to the National Healthcare Associated Infection Research Network, on average, patients with a Healthcare Associated Infection
30 | HEALTHCARE & HOSPITAL HYGIENE
(HAI) have been found to be around seven times more likely to die in hospital than uninfected patients. It is estimated that as many as 5,000 patients die each year in the UK as a direct result of HCAIs, and it is one of the factors in another 15,000 deaths. Apart from the obvious risks associated with airborne contamination, dust and debris from poorly maintained and cleaned ductwork will settle on surfaces rendering even the most rigorous surface cleaning process instantly ineffective, thus wasting staff time and effort.
Regular inspection and cleaning of hospital ducts and filters is clearly one simple but highly effective step hospitals can take as part of their infection control procedures. Indeed, under workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) regulations, building owners and managers have a legal obligation to ensure that enclosed workplaces are ventilated with fresh, purified air. Mechanical systems must be cleaned, maintained and inspected regularly, and records keep showing evidence that ductwork continues to meet regulations. But, while one would assume this is a standard procedure, it is likely that as much as 99% of the ducting systems in hospitals may not be properly cleaned.
It’s essential that duct cleaning is carried out by qualified specialists according to current industry standards, as laid down by B&ES
TR/19 and the BS EN 15780. Ordinary cleaning companies may lack the expertise to clean systems to the necessary standards. Indepth Hygiene has been working with The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust in North London for almost ten years, providing a full ventilation hygiene clean on a six-monthly basis. The Whittington Hospital has a strong reputation for safe care; for two years it has consistently had one of the lowest death rates in England, one of the key criteria for measuring patient safety.
Jon Russell, Estates Manager at Whittington Hospital, said: “We approached Indepth Hygiene because of their reputation as leading providers of duct cleaning and specialist ventilation cleaning services. It’s a rolling programme, part of our estate maintenance and cleaning procedure, and the service is extremely effective and efficient, with operatives working around our schedules to minimise disruption.”
It’s clear that having a thorough and regular ductwork inspection, cleaning and maintenance programme in hospitals is essential. The cost of not doing so could be very high indeed, both in human terms and the cost to the NHS in treating HCAIs - an estimated £1billion a year.
www.indepthhygiene.co.uk
www.tomorrowscleaning.com
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