Healthcare facilities are kept clean and safe to control the spread of infections. If high-touch surfaces surface which are most commonly handled by staff, patients, and visitors-are not disinfected properly, they can harbor pathogens that can be harmful. An understanding of which surfaces really need attention and recruiting proper cleaning protocols will even further help avert healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Recognizing What Is High Touch
High-touch surfaces are areas commonly touched by people throughout the day. These include door handles, bed rails, light switches, medical equipment, nurse calling buttons, and computer keyboards in healthcare facilities. Bacteria and viruses could be transmitted through even the smallest items: pens, telephones, or elevator buttons. The first step toward disinfection is the constant identification and monitoring of these surfaces.
Disinfectant Choices
The term “cleaning agent” is an umbrella term: not all of them have the same properties. Disinfectant agents used in healthcare facilities should kill a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Favorably, only those disinfectants that have passed the tests of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulators should be used so that their effectiveness is assured. And never forget to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially about the time of the time during which the disinfectant must remain on the surface.
Good Practice in Cleaning
For effective disinfection, several factors must be considered. The surfaces must first be thoroughly cleaned to remove particulate soil and debris that may reduce the efficacy of any disinfectant brought into contact with the surface. Using microfiber cloths or disposable wipes captures rather than redistributes any contaminants, whereas cleaning staff should work from top to bottom and from clean to dirty systematically.
Frequency of Disinfection
High-touch surfaces ought to be disinfected often, but more so when there is an influx of patients or during an outbreak of infection. There are, in fact, many healthcare facilities that clean these areas several times during the day, with further disinfection after each use of equipment shared with patients. Consistency is important, as lapses in cleaning cases can allow pathogens to build up.
Training and Compliance
The cleaning staff must have suitable training for the job. A person engaged in maintaining a facility should know what affects surface disinfection, how to use it properly, and all safety precautions involved in the process to prevent exposure to harmful chemicals. Routine audits and active monitoring will help maintain compliance with cleaning protocols for a safe environment for all staff and patients.
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