INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
pledged to achieve Net Zero emissions from their health systems within the coming decades, and a further 32 nations made formal commitments to develop sustainable, low-carbon health systems. This goal is being achieved by eliminating disposables where possible and switching to reusable options. Against this backdrop, both the environmental cost and
energy consumption must be considered when assessing washing reusable bedpans versus using disposables. Warewashing is intensely competitive in terms of its energy usage, and every new generation of machines comes with advances. Indeed Meiko increases energy, water, and chemical efficiency in every new generation of new washer-disinfector it introduces.
Disposables’ higher environmental impact Macerators tend to have a higher environmental impact due to the fact that single-use products are being used and processed, and there is also the potential for blockages in the sewage system – especially if the machines are overloaded, resulting in spillage. Stacking or dropping disposable bedpans into macerators, meanwhile, creates aerosols. Ask any nurse about problems with disposables –flimsiness, leakage, and spillage are common. Disposables also create ongoing costs, require storage, and are subject to human error, as part-used packs collect dust, and are more exposed over time to contamination from soiled hands and aerosols. Meiko’s bedpan-washers are designed for single-
A Meiko flush-mounted bedpan washer-disinfector, as installed in single patient rooms at Oakville Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
programme, reduces human error, saves time, and conserves resources. The use of reflection light barriers (also known as reflective photoelectric sensors) – optical sensors used to detect objects without contact using light reflection – is the key to ensuring accurate load detection. Meiko’s research generates a large number of patents. To ensure maximum economy in use, and minimise the need for humans to touch the bedpan washers, Meiko engineers harnessed at least two different types of reflection light barriers to detect differences in the content of containers, and thereby switch to the most appropriate wash. “This enables simple yet reliable load detection in the form of an optical detection, which can be combined with evaluation of the load,” says Meiko’s patent application. A cleaning programme tailored to the load incorporated into Meiko’s washer-disinfectors saves resources. Combined with an automatic door, a programme can also self-start without additional touching. In this way, the risk of cross-contamination is reduced. Hospitals must have the right equipment to respond
to emergencies, pandemics, and other critical situations, which means bedpan washer-disinfectors need to be multipurpose in design Meiko washer-disinfectors are used at ward level, and to combat outbreaks or in isolation wards. User-activated A0 values of 60, 600, or 3000 mean they comply with DIN EN ISO 15883.
Increasing focus on sustainability Healthcare and healthcare activities are, of course, a major contributor to environmental impact. At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), 14 countries
handed loading, whereas some other washer-disinfectors and macerators require two hands to carry bedpans or place them into racks. Our bedpan washer-disinfectors are also quiet in use, meaning they can placed closer to patients, reducing the travel distance for nurses. In conclusion, the issue of how to best wash bedpans safely, hygienically, economically, and sustainably will continue to produce debate, but companies such as Meiko are doing their very best to develop the most technically advanced solutions, so that hospitals can be rest assured they are not on their own in the battle to minimise cross-contamination and infection risk in ward and in sluice room settings. Meiko bedpan washer-disinfectors machines and complementary sluice room equipment, such as basins, cabinets, and benches, are extensively used throughout Europe, and in many other regions around the globe. Meiko UK has a dedicated team, including engineers, ready to demonstrate the machines in-use benefits and features, and to answer any questions form potential or existing customers.
References 1 Bryce E, Lamsdale A, Forrester L, Dempster L, Scharf S, McAuley M et al. Bedpan washer disinfectors: An in-use evaluation of cleaning and disinfection. Am J Infect Control 2011; 39(7): 566-70.
2 Rowan NJ, Kremer T, McDonnell G. A review of Spaulding’s classification system for effective cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of reusable medical devices: Viewed through a modern-day lens that will inform and enable future sustainability. Sci Total Environ 2023; 20:878: 162976.
3 Clostridium difficile: Hygiene management for care utensils whitepaper. Meiko.
https://tinyurl.com/53kyfebd
4 Bromilow T, Holmes H, Coote L, Woods S, Pink J. Cost- Effectiveness Analysis of Antimicrobial Prescribing in the Treatment of Clostridioides Difficile Infection in England. Original Research Article. Open access. Published: 12 June 2023. 7:739–750.
Jon Sharp and Meiko
Jon Sharp is Meiko UK’s Specification manager for the Care sector. Formerly a key figure in Hilton’s European F&B strategy, he spent a decade driving brand growth for Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Known for his strong leadership and business development skills, at Meiko he helps lead the expansion of vital hygiene solutions, including innovative washer-disinfectors for hospitals and care homes. His appointment signals Meiko’s commitment to enhancing safety and hygiene standards in healthcare and frontline sectors. He said: “Meiko’s innovative equipment, combined with its extraordinary customer focus – such as providing lifetime training support for Meiko machines – is the way of the future.” German warewashing
manufacturer, Meiko, launched its first bedpan washer-disinfector onto the European market in 1975. Founded over 95 years ago, Meiko is unusual in that it is a foundation, and has had engineers driving the business for the last three decades. As a foundation free from shareholder pressure, and with a strong engineering bias, Meiko’s profits are reinvested in R&D and training for its staff, customers, and apprentices.
September 2025 Health Estate Journal 61
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