OPERATING ROOM
“Hand hygiene and surface cleaning are intricately linked due to the number of surfaces people touch within healthcare facilities. “Research shows the general public wants more emphasis on cleanliness,” she continued, citing several projects conducted by Essity. “A recent survey from Essity found 7 out of 10 people say they will have higher expectations on the hygiene standards of healthcare facilities after COVID-19.4
Similarly, 90 percent of
respondents in a second Essity survey said increased sanitizing and cleaning in these spaces is important.”5 Chung targets access to products as a fundamental determiner – and deterrent.
“In healthcare facilities these actions can be optimized by making
sure appropriate products and educational materials are within reach for users,” she said. “It’s imperative that handwashing sta- tions are fully stocked with soap, paper towels and sanitizers. The placement of dispensers is equally important. Studies show that optimizing dispenser placement can increase usage by more than 50% and has a greater impact on usage than increasing the num- ber of available dispensers.6
To make this tangible for healthcare
facilities, Tork offers free, evidence-based online guides to inform optimal dispenser placement.
Chung also expects surface cleaning standards by environmen- tal serves professionals likely to remain higher as a result of the pandemic. “To optimize cleaning efforts, environmental services profession- als should use products that are designed to prevent germ spread, such as Tork icrofiber leaning loths,” she advised. “The cloths tiny, snare-like fibers can wipe away . of pathogens, includ- ing C. diff, helping prevent the spread of healthcare-associated
infections. The cloths are also reusable for up to 300 washes and come in a variety of colors. Assigning colors to certain teams is a great way to avoid cross-contamination in a healthcare setting.” Chung recommends healthcare organizations reach out to Essity for a variety of Tork-branded interactive training guides and tools.
Stepping up J. Hudson Garrett Jr., Ph.D., President & CEO, Community Health Associates LLC, which serves as a consultant to Clorox Healthcare, salutes healthcare organizations for stepping up their game. “Many healthcare facilities increased the detail of daily and terminal cleaning as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Garrett indicated. “These efforts decreased the risk for cross contamination and subsequent transmission of infection between inanimate environmental surfaces and healthcare providers and patients. In addition to total room decontamination, an in creased fre- quency of daily disinfection practices with ready- to-use wipes and sprays has also been observed across many healthcare settings. This enhanced focus will mini- mize bioburden, increase the effectiveness of cleaning and dis- infecting, and reduce the overall risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).” Garrett, MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, CFER,
J. Hudson Garrett Jr.
AS-BC, VA-BC, BC-MSLcert, NREMT, MSL-BC, DICO-C, TR-C, CPPS, CPHQ, FACDONA, FAAPM, FNAP, also serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, Faculty, Center for Education and Training in Infection Prevention (CETIP), Division
UVC: An Added Layer of Protection
Adding the Tru-D enhanced UVC disinfection technology to your cleaning protocols has been shown to provide a cleaner hospital environment for patients.1,2
If you are interested in learning more, visit us at
tru-d.com/powerofone.
1 Mahida, N, et al (2013). First UK evaluation of an automated Ultraviolet-C room decontamination device (Tru-D). Journal of Hospital Infection, 05(005), 1-4.3. Sexton, D., Anderson, D., et al (2017).
2 Enhanced terminal room disinfection and acquisition and infection caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and &ORVWULGLXP GLↃ FLOH WKH %HQHↅ WV RI (QKDQFHG 7HUPLQDO Room Disinfection study): a cluster-randomised,multicentre, crossover study. The Lancet. 389(10071), 805-814
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