CLEANING & HYGIENE Full Steam Ahead


Good environmental hygiene is vital to preventing healthcare associated infections and one of the most reliable safer alternatives to the broad use of chemicals is the use of steam sanitising equipment, says OspreyDeepclean.


There is a whole body of clinical evidence from case reports and outbreak investigations that suggest an association between poor personal and environmental hygiene and the transmission of microorganisms causing healthcare associated infections (HCAI).


The government body NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) estimated that MRSA and C. difficile alone contribute to as many as 15,000 patient deaths each year, 5,000 of which are a direct result of the patient contracting a superbug. It concludes that these figures are ‘unacceptable’ and that many of the deaths could be avoided if staff simply washed their hands regularly. But is it really that simple and how can you tell visually clean is hygienically clean?


Much of the focus – quite rightly – is about personal and general hygiene but good environmental hygiene is vital to any strategy for preventing HCAIs and Covid within any healthcare environment. One of the most reliable safer alternatives to the broad use of chemicals and one growing in favour with many residential care and nursing homes is the use of steam sanitising equipment.


THE FACTS Bactericidal efficacy: • •


In 20 minutes, bacteria can double in numbers.


In eight hours, one microbe can multiply to more than one million organisms


Temperature plays an important role in the growth of bacteria – as they thrive in the temperature danger zone of 5-65 degrees Celsius.


Environmental hygiene, proper cleaning guides and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are therefore essential.


In general, bacteria require four main factors to thrive and multiply: water; a food source; the right temperature; and, time.


ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE


Using only cold clean tap water superheated to 180C dry steam quickly penetrates deep into surfaces without causing destruction or damage over any length of time to the surfaces and leaves little scope for antimicrobial resistance. Dirt, pathogens and their biofilms including MRSA, Covid, Acinetobacter and C.Difficile are safely removed via vacuum extraction and/or microfibre.


Surfaces are leſt sanitised, decontaminated, dry and ready for immediate use thus avoiding un-necessary downtime associated with other more conventional cleaning methods. It is for these reasons that dry steam is being incorporated more and more in the ever popular ‘back-to-basics’ approach to cleaning. Back to a time good old fashioned deep cleaning practises were the norm and HCAI’s were not mainstream news.


- 24 - FAST AND EFFECTIVE SANITISING


For this reason, many residential care and nursing homes and indeed the wider healthcare sector are now using OspreyDeepclean Dry Steam machines to sanitise their environment including patient trolleys, wheelchairs, bedside tables and beds and mattresses.


Steam penetrates where a chemical impregnated wipe cannot, so that equipment to be sanitised does not need to be dismantled, nor even the curtains taken down, meaning beds may be returned to full use in the fastest time possible.


The low pressure, which can be regulated, ensures that sufficient steam is quickly and effectively released to ensure cleaning and bactericidal efficacy. The heat ensures that the bonding between dirt and the surface structure is broken down, while the steam results in the instant dissolving of grease, grime and dirt and facilitates safe removal of all debris and micro-organisms via the in-built high filtration vacuum and/or microfibre cloth.


In response, OspreyDeepclean has assembled a unique collection of specially selected machines to provide a high performance, practical and cost-effective solution to satisfy the high demands of every cleaning task imaginable within the residential care and healthcare sector.


https://ospreydc.com www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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