?Updated the article “7 principles of hospital hygiene to keep in mind” last November 25, 2022. At TKT Clean Green Cleaning Company
It’s no surprise that hospitals are filled with infectious agents and pathogens. Body fluids, airborne germs, and general human contact are the main modes of infection. Hospital cleaning services will help reduce this risk as much as possible. But all cleaning staff must follow the instructions for maximum cleaning performance. Forgetting to disinfect even one surface can expose cleaners, hospital staff, or visitors to dangerous illnesses.
Most hospitals will have similar hygiene guidelines. But not necessarily the same. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with the regulations of each hospital before cleaning them.
Photo: Staff cleaning the hospital corridor
Some of the consistent and mandatory guidelines that must be followed are those of regulatory agencies such as the Department of Health, and the Ministry of Health. You can also find guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). Although not required, these are good rules to follow.
In addition, TKT will lay out 7 hospital hygiene principles that you can follow at any facility to help keep everyone safe.
The first hospital hygiene rule: Fully equipped
Before you start cleaning the hospital room. It is important that you protect yourself. Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, a mask, or safety glasses. In a hospital setting, you can also wear a medical gown to help keep infectious substances from getting on your clothing. If you are already sick, stay away from hospital cleaning. Because you will be more susceptible to infection.
Image: PPE . protective equipment
In addition to fully equipped with personal protective equipment. Then having a basic knowledge of hospital cleaning is also essential. Especially the cleaning of medical examination and treatment tools and machines. As well as the segregation of waste. If you are disposing of biohazardous waste, make sure the container is tightly closed and take it carefully to an appropriate disposal site.
Taking these simple safety measures is one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of infection.
Hospital hygiene rule #2: Use quality disinfectants
Detergents sold at grocery stores are not strong enough to guarantee the cleanliness required of a healthcare facility. You’ll want to use an EPA-approved disinfectant instead. These powerful chemicals kill 99% of germs found in hospitals on contact, so you don’t have to let liquids sit on surfaces before wiping or wiping.
Today, there are even options of all-natural cleaning chemicals. With ingredients safe for humans, not only optimal cleaning but also environmentally friendly.
Image: Multipurpose cleaning chemicals
3rd hospital hygiene rule: Attention to details
Hospital hygiene checklists are often very detailed. This is to ensure rooms, hallways and common spaces are as clean as possible. If the staff adheres well to the cleaning items listed, then basically everything is cleaned perfectly.
However, if they are professional cleaning staff. They will know the actual work they need to get done. For example, the items of cleaning and sweeping the floor are included in the checklist. In addition to the floor surface, they also need to clean the corners, the area under the waiting seats, or under other equipment. When mopping the floor, wipe backward in an “S” pattern to make sure you clean the entire area. The same goes for window cleaning. It’s not just about cleaning the glass and doorknobs but also cleaning the sills and floor areas below the windows.
Some other details also need attention such as Disinfect bed rails, phone and keyboard handles, remote controls, table tops, and other surfaces, etc. Even air vents and other surfaces. Other HVAC equipment must also be dusted and cleaned, as should lighting fixtures and ceilings.
4th hospital hygiene rule: Divide the cleaning area
Each area in the hospital has its own function and purpose. And there are also varying degrees of potential disease risk. Before performing hospital cleaning services anywhere. It is important to have an overview of the hospital structure, as well as the areas your cleaning unit is responsible for. From there, the selection of personnel in charge, the planning of cleaning as well as the inspection and supervision of service quality will be more appropriate and correct.
Image: Staff cleaning the floor of the hospital room
The main areas can be divided as follows:
– Exterior: yard, garage, entrance, inter-zone walkway
– Internal area: corridor, lobby, elevator, stairs,
– Low infection areas: offices, meeting rooms, technical rooms, numbering/paying counters, places to wait for tests or get results, drug dispensing counters
– High infection areas: emergency room, operating room, recovery room, special care room, testing area, X-ray room, MRI room, patient room, ….
– Infected areas: toilets, douching rooms, places for dirty things, medical waste….
After clearly dividing the main area to be cleaned. You need to prepare specialized cleaning equipment and tools for each zone. Do not use the same cleaning equipment for different areas. Because each place has different levels of exposure. So if you share the same cleaning equipment, you’re bringing germs from high-exposure areas to low-exposure areas.
Image: Classification of hospital cleaning tools
You can use colors or symbols to distinguish the cleaning tools of each area. For example, use green towels for low-infection areas and red towels for high-infection areas. This should also apply to protective equipment. Never use the same PPE to clean multiple areas. Because you can unknowingly spread the disease between zones.
6th Hospital Hygiene Principle: Use a Checklist
To make sure that you don’t miss any step in the hospital cleaning instructions. Create a checklist that you can refer to at work.
A checklist will help you to remember all the areas, tasks and details to do in cleaning the hospital. Even seasoned employees acknowledge the benefits of this checklist. TKTClean has a number of hospital hygiene checklist templates for your reference and actively builds a separate hygiene checklist for your unit.
7th hospital hygiene rule: Proper handling of sharp objects
Hospital staff are directly responsible for sharp objects such as needles. But sometimes you can find them on the floor, or maybe a bottle, a broken glass test tube. All of these should be handled quickly and properly. These wastes should be placed in a red sharps container. This type of barrel is easy to find in most hospitals. Throwing these items in the sharps container helps prevent injury. Or a needle puncture, which can lead to a serious infection even if the wound is as small as the tip of a needle.
Image: Handling of sharp waste
TKTClean is ready to bring the best service
With over 10 years of experience in the cleaning industry. We have an unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality cleaning. By using industry leading products and processes. We will work with you to create a service package that meets your time and quality needs. Even if that means working overtime.
Image: Hospital cleaning service
Our specialized hospital care hygiene procedures are designed to help keep medical facilities healthier. And more comfortable for the patient, the patient’s family. Because we believe that customer satisfaction is the best scale to evaluate service quality. We will monitor our service to ensure your complete satisfaction.
