THE FIGHT FOR HEALTHCARE HYGIENE
Chicopee discusses how microfibre can help the frontline battle to maintain hygiene in healthcare facilities.
Hospital acquired infection (HAIs) prevention remains a priority throughout the NHS, and as the threat of bacterial resistance increases, healthcare chiefs are keen to continue the progress made so far. In Europe alone, around 37,000 deaths a year are estimated to be as a result of a hospital-acquired infection (HAIs), resulting in an extra 16 million days spent in hospital. Of these, around one fifth are judged to be preventable through improved hygiene routines.
And while it is widely acknowledged that cleaning plays a key role in limiting the spread of infection, laundering alone is not enough to remove potentially harmful bacteria from cleaning materials.
The American Journal of Infection Control found that 93% of cloths – woven and microfibre – that had been used to clean patient rooms still retained traces of bacteria after laundering.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE The use of microfibre has become an important factor in the fight against HAIs. However, not all microfibre cloths are the same: some may contain as little as 25% microfibre, which will not be as effective at removing bacteria as those constructed from 100% microfibre.
Chicopee’s Microfibre Light is made from 100% splittable microfibre, which traps 99.99% of microbes within its fibres, eradicating the danger of pathogens being spread onto the next surface to be cleaned.
Known as the ‘capillary effect’, the Microfibre Light’s fibres act like a magnet, removing and trapping bacteria until released. This is because they are positively charged – while bacteria, dirt and dust are negatively charged – consequently they are all attracted to the cloth.
The thinner the fibres, the more effective the clean. Fibres in the Microfibre Light are 80% finer than standard microfibre,
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ensuring the maximum number of microbes are picked up and trapped. This method of ‘mechanical cleaning’ gives superior cleaning performance, removing dirt and bacteria without the use of chemicals.
Designed for short-term use, the cloths are simply discarded after they have been used, which in turn removes the need for time-consuming laundry. On wards where a one cloth per-patient cleaning regime exists, the Microfibre Light offers excellent levels of cleanliness at the same time as remaining cost-effective.
FLOORCARE INNOVATION The same microfibre technology is now being applied to floorcare, with disposable microfibre mops delivering impressive cleaning performance while removing potentially harmful bacteria.
Inevitably dirt and dust will build up on any smooth floor. Whatever the setting, this looks unattractive and unhygienic, with the possibility of triggering allergies and creating health and safety problems, which is especially problematic in healthcare facilities.
Traditional floor cleaning mops can make matters worse, transferring dirt and bacteria from one area to another. Electronic floor cleaners offer good cleaning performance but many are not suitable for use during the day, when waiting rooms or corridors experience high footfall.
String mops require the use of both water and chemicals, which can result in inconsistent cleans as well as potential for accidental slips and falls while the space is drying. Using microfibre can improve both aesthetic and microbiological cleanliness of floors, while reducing water and chemical usage.
Chicopee’s Fluid Mopping System features disposable microfibre floor mops, which attach to a light and easy to use mopping tool. The tool
has a built-in reservoir for cleaning fluid, which is dispensed as needed when the user pulls a trigger. The mops themselves use Chicopee’s high-quality microfibre to attract then trap dirt, dust and bacteria within the fibres, eradicating the danger of cross- contamination. When the mop is full, it is simply discarded.
BETTER FOR THE WARD, BETTER FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT Reducing the use of cleaning chemicals is good news for the environment; however, it’s also good for the ward. The use of biocides has been linked to an increase in tolerance of bacteria to a wide range of antibiotics.
Cleaning times are reduced and carrying around heavy buckets of water is no longer necessary, which in turn can improve cleaning staff health.
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