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INFECTION PREVENTION


INFECTION PREVENTION


Charting a cleaning course


EVS crews maintain steady path in healthcare facility decontamination and protection during pandemic by Ebony Smith


Photo 183324584 © Nataliia Mysik | Dreamstime.com T


he COVID-19 pandemic crashed into the world like tidal waves in a storm with catastrophic effects on the global healthcare, economic and cultural systems. Infections and deaths surged in communities, dampened lives and overwhelmed healthcare. As the pandemic now seems to be subsiding in some aspects and areas, it still remains vital to help protect populations from transmission and contraction of SARS-CoV-2.


Consequently, COVID-19 boosted concentration on surface cleaning and personal hygiene at home, in hospitals and other workplaces, as well as in public spaces. Environmental Services (EVS) staff answer this call performing essential cleaning and sanitization in patient care settings. “EVS teams have always played an integral role in cleaning and disinfection in health- care facilities,” emphasized Julie Stegeman, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, Healthcare Segment Manager, Interface. “They are frontline defenders when it comes to con- tamination control. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis elevated the role of these EVS teams practically overnight. At the same time, it made their roles more complex as they adapted to changing best practices sur- rounding transmission prevention, social distancing and more.”


As the second year of the pandemic persists, ongoing cleaning, hygiene, health and safety actions are expected to continue, according to the American Cleaning Insti- tute (ACI), which serves as the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry. “A national online consumer survey con- ducted by Ipsos on behalf of ACI shows that


85% of respondents are very or somewhat likely to maintain the same level of cleaning practices initially adopted in March 2020, even when the pandemic has passed,”1 reported ACI.


“In today’s current climate, as schools and communities across the country begin to reopen and new variants of the virus continue to spread, the cleaning and hygiene habits adopted at the onset of the pandemic will continue to play a crucial role in helping prevent the spread of ill- ness,” ACI stated. ey fi ndings include • Of the adopted cleaning, disinfecting and hygiene habits, Americans report an increase in use of the following products since the pandemic began in arch  hand sanitizer (72% versus 59%), disin- fectant wipes (55% versus 44%) and spray disinfectant (42% versus 36%).


• More than 75% of respondents plan to con- tinue to wash their hands frequently with soap and water and 57% report plans to continue using hand sanitizer frequently in the future.


• 73% of Americans cite protecting their own health and wellness, and 62% cite protect- ing that of others, as reasons to continue their COVID-19 cleaning habits.”1 With regard to hand hygiene, healthcare and other industries have significantly ramped up their supply of hand sanitizers, according to a survey in April by GP PRO, a division of eorgia-acifi c.2 The survey, “found that the number of


hand sanitizer units in foodservice, health- care, industrial, lodging, and offi ce facilities nearly doubled since the start of the corona-


32 July 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


virus pandemic, increasing from an average of 23 units to more than 40 units per facility. The greatest increase occurred in office facilities, with the average number of units tripling, but the highest number of total units occurred in healthcare and lodging facilities, with each averaging 85 per facility.” Additionally, the company reported that,


“Hand sanitizer units increased by more than 50% on average in healthcare facilities. Post- pandemic, 91% of healthcare respondents expect to leave most or all of their hand sanitizer units in place.”


EVS on deck with facility safety Hospital, medical and other places of patient care must continue to follow the highest standards and protocols of room and surface cleaning and disinfection to help control the transmission of healthcare-associated infec- tions (HAIs), including COVID-19. EVS workers step up daily to provide these critical practices and protection to help achieve hygienic and safe settin gs. “Environmental Services teams play a critical role in keeping healthcare facilities a safer place for everyone,” express ed Andrew Rushworth, Director of Product Marketing, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “They are the unsung heroes of the COVID-19 crisis! They have been working diligently to effectively implement cleaning and disinfection protocols in conjunction with CDC guidance, while navigating the challenges of supply chain shortages and


Andrew Rushworth


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