An inert surface can be disinfected by using a disinfectant, which is a chemical ingredient or compound.
In addition to hand hygiene and correct reprocessing of medical instruments, the multi-barrier strategy to avoid infection increasingly emphasizes surface cleaning and disinfection in hospitals.
A registered hospital-grade disinfectant kills hazardous bacteria, pathogenic viruses, and fungal spores, disinfects surfaces, and destroys fungus in a medical area.
Disinfectants and cleaners for healthcare facilities
Healthcare facilities frequently utilize the following cleaning and disinfection products:
- Soap or Alcohols isopropyl/denatured alcohol/60-90 per cent ethyl
- Iodophors
- The ‘QUATs,’ or compounds of quaternary ammonium,
- Chemical Compounds of Chlorine
- Dimethyl Sulfonate Phenolic Aldehydes (must be used solely for environmental or equipment disinfection as per product components)
- The Oxygen Peroxide of Hydrogen (to be used only as an antiseptic)
Hospital Disinfectant Use
General Tips and Tricks-
Before applying a disinfectant, an object or surface must be clear of filth and other materials that can interfere with the disinfection’s activity, such as adhesive products.
Equipment that only comes into contact with healthy skin can be disinfected using a hospital-approved disinfectant.
The disinfectant should be used according to the manufacturer’s directions for dilution and contact duration.
The disinfection solution and cleaning equipment should be kept as clean as possible. Disinfectants may be made more effective by following these steps:
- Dilute them properly
- Preparing them fresh before use
- Changing the disinfectant solution often
- Never use the disinfectant solution to re-clean a soiled cloth
Each product should have its own set of PPE, which should be worn when working with it. A quality control system is required to guarantee that the hospital-grade disinfectant remains effective over time. Vendors may also be asked to provide a quality test certificate for each batch of hospital records.
Types of equipment
- Trolley/bucket for cleaning – Three-bucket trolleys with a wringing mechanism are better. The water will be easier to spot if it’s in a bucket that’s light in color. The cart should be able to hold disinfectant bottles, hand mops, and stick mops. Hand mops that have been used should be kept in a separate compartment on the trolley. Use a clean trolley/bucket for all cleaning tasks. The three-bucket method should be used as much as possible. The first bucket should be filled with water that has been sprayed with detergent. Finally, a disinfectant can be used to clean the mop before it is mopped once again in the third bucket.
- There should be different wet mops for critical, semi-critical, and general locations. There are several ways to assist employees in distinguishing between tasks.
- Brooms are not permitted in patient care areas. Therefore use dry (dust) mops instead. Each region should be cleaned with a different type of mop. Color coding should be utilized to make it easier for employees to distinguish between tasks.
- Long dust mops should be supplied to remove cobwebs and lint from the ceiling.
- Toilet cleaning using rubber floor wipes. Kitchen counters and toilet walls may be cleaned using a set of handheld rubber wipes.
- Hand mops are used to clean the equipment: Critical, semi-critical, and general-purpose mops must have buckets. Staff should be able to readily distinguish between similar items thanks to the usage of color coding.
- Dust pans are used to collect small pieces of debris. Using a piece of cardboard or plastic that is rigid, shove the garbage into the container.
- Gloves that have both long and short sleeves should be used. These should be sized appropriately.
- All cleaning products and mops should be rinsed with safe drinking water. The use of filter water is an option.
