INFECTION PREVENTION
“The COVID-19 pandemic challenged EVS and IP teams to enact higher standards across healthcare facilities for preventing the spread of infection,” St. Clair expressed. “These actions ranged from policy changes pertaining to mandatory mask wearing and limited visitors to implementing more rigorous disinfection prac- tices. When it comes to disinfection, in the past IP and EVS teams held disinfectants on the EPA’s List K of products with a sporicidal kill claim against C. difficile as the golden standard. During the pandemic, they turned to List N for products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2.” As the crisis starts to lighten, Kley of Clorox Professional Products
Co. recommends EVS teams revisit prior training and education on all infectious pathogens.
“With the pandemic showing signs of slowing and as we start to get back to the ‘new’ normal, now is the time to hit the reset but- ton and get back to basics,” she stressed. “For the past 17 months, a lot of attention has been focused on a single pathogen. During refresher trainings, it’s important to remind EVS teams that there are other equally important pathogens like C. difficile and AROs. A key component of training programs is competency assessment, which tests both skill and knowledge. This can be accomplished through return-demonstrations, direct observation, quizzes or any combination of these.”
Navigating future course of EVS
How can EVS teams prepare for what comes next in healthcare facility cleaning and disinfection? alden hane, D, hief xecutive fficer and hief cientific fficer, TI nvironmental olutions, predicts continued adapt- ability and support needed among EVS and IP departments. “While IP specialists and EVS technicians have always required
an incredible level of foresight to anticipate new pathogenic threats and patterns within healthcare facilities, the ongoing pandemic has added significant levels of risk, uncertainty and urgency, hane
explained. “We may be facing a relatively new viral threat, but other known and existing pathogens – and potentially lethal ones – are still very much present across the globe. Just as cleaning (EVS) and I teams need added exibility during these times, they also need solutions that can broadly help, no matter how our understanding of these threats evolves.”
Alice Brewer, MPH, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC, Clinical Affairs Director, Tru-D SmartUVC, part of PDI Healthcare, recommends creating pro- fessional development and communication opportunities for teams. “The most important thing EVS and IP teams can do to be pre- pared in the future is to maintain their current competencies and be aware of any new guidelines and recommendations,” Brewer stated. “Keeping good lines of communication with other depart- ments, such as nursing, sterile processing and pharmacy, will also ensure that they are prepared for whatever challenges are ahead.” taying up to date with practices and products in the field also will be key to moving forward, envisions Hoffmann of Vidashield UV24. “Well established EVS protocols have been a saving grace in healthcare operations,” she said. “With or without COVID, what is not going to change is the need to provide a clean environment for patient and healthcare worker safety. EVS will need to be front and center to help healthcare facilities in evaluating new processes and technologies for environmental cleaning and disinfection.” HPN
References:
1. ACI Survey: 85% of Americans to Keep Up Cleaning Practices After COVID,
https://www.cleanin-
ginstitute.org/newsroom/releases/2021/aci-survey-85-americans-keep-cleaning-practices-after-covid1
2. Growth in Hand Sanitizer Units Expected to Outlast COVID,
https://www.gppro.com/gp/news- and-knowledge/growth-in-hand-sanitizer-units-expected-to-outlast-covid
3. CDC releases cleaning resource for health care environment,
https://www.aha.org/news/ headline/2020-11-02-cdc-releases-cleaning-resource-health-care-environment2
4. CDC and ICAN. Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities in Resource- Limited Settings. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; Cape Town, South Africa: Infection Control Africa Network; 2019,
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/prevent/resource- limited/
index.html,
http://www.icanetwork.co.za/icanguideline2019/3
Achieving healthcare environment hygiene success
What are the latest environmental cleaning and disinfection tools, technology and practices used to decrease pathogens in healthcare facilities and improve safety in patient care?
“As we continue to mitigate the spread of new COVID-19 strains and HAIs, EVS contributions must remain a priority for management, as the focus on facility cleanliness and hygiene is a key contributor to overall success. Digital training platforms, like Tork Interactive Clean Hospital Training, alongside refreshed tools, can help EVS teams feel more engaged and empowered to achieve excellent hygiene results with the understanding that their roles are fundamental to patient, visitor and staff safety. Investing in products and solutions that are specifically designed for EVS teams will also ensure sustained hygiene compliance. Tork Microfiber Cleaning Cloths pick up dirt and microorganisms – instead of just pushing them around – and because they are color coded it is easier for staff to assign a wiper to a specific task. “ To ensur e consistency, EVS managers should provide a facility- wide checklist
The Tork Interactive Clean Hospital Training
that
establishes protocol for surface cleaning, along with precisely
36 July 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
what should be disinfected and the required frequency of cleaning for each of these areas.
Deborah Chung, Essity
“One technology that CDC recommends facilities who can’t meet the increased ventilation standards use is upper room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). Vidashield UV24 is an upper room UVGI that has demonstrated in multiple studies statistically significant
NUVO Surgical’s Vidashield UV24
reductions in air and surface contamination of aerosolized bacteria, viruses, and fungi.”
Karen Hoffmann, NUVO Surgical
“Halosil’s EVS and IP customers have slowed the spread of disease by utilizing the Halo Disinfection System to reach pathogens in all the cracks and crevices where they lurk. The system pairs HaloMist disinfectant (EPA Reg. No. 84526-6) with the HaloFogger equipment to ensure a uniform delivery of our disinfectant throughout complex spaces. Today, the Halo system is the whole room disinfection solution of choice for hospitals, long-term care facilities and surgical centers worldwide. In
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