Care of the Environment

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY

Lolita A. Sanchez R.N.

Dr. Jesus C. Delgado Memorial Hospital

OBJECTIVES:

1. To provide guidelines in the proper cleaning

and disinfection of the patient environment

2. To develop awareness of the importance of a

clean environment in the prevention and control

of infection

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

CLEANING

• general removal of

organic matter

(dirt, food, blood, saliva,

and other body secretions)

that contributes to

proliferation of bacteria

and viruses

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

DISINFECTION

• the process of removing significant amount of

pathogens that cause infection or disease

• any process of disinfection must be preceded

by cleaning

• only items and surfaces that have come in

contact with patient skin and mucosa or

frequently touched require disinfection after

cleaning

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

Environmental Cleaning

• Patient environment

that is contaminated

can facilitate transmission

of bacteria and viruses

between patients

CARE COF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

High Touch Surfaces in Patient Rooms

• Considered non-critical

• Must be cleaned then disinfected on a regular

basis

• Examples include:

bedrails call bell telephone

TV remote IV pump IV poles

overbed table chairs bedside

light switches doorknobs equipment

toilet flush

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILTIY

Items Requiring only Cleaning

• Floors, walls, and windows

• Chairs and other furnitures used by individuals

who are clothed

• Offices and other non-patient care areas

• Bed curtains should be changed when soiled

and with terminal cleaning

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

Environmental

Disinfectants

• Phenolics (Lysol)

• Quarternary

ammonium

compounds

• Iodophors

• Chlorine (bleach)

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

FOR CLEANING SPILLS,

SPLASHES, AND

GENERAL ENVIRONMENT

• Gloves / Rubber gloves

• Gown / Rubber apron

• Mask

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

Color Coding Corresponding Area

Yellow Infectious/Isolation Area

Red Toilets/Bathrooms/Dirty Utility Room

Green Food Service/Preparation Area

Blue General Cleaning

White Operating Room

For the purposes of infection and bacterial control the

identification of cleaning equipment utilized in the different

areas of a health facility is considered essential.

Clear identification, by color coding, of the various items of

cleaning equipment is considered the most effective method of

restricting equipment to individual areas of health

facilities.

STAGES FOR CLEANING SPILLS OF

BLOOD / BODY SUBSTANCES

• Put on gown/apron and rubber gloves

• Clean the visible matter with the use of disposable absorbent paper (old newspaper)

• Dispose the used cleaning materials in leakproof waste container properly labeled

• Swab the area with cloth/paper towels moderately wetted with disinfectant and allow the surface to dry

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

STAGES FOR CLEANING SPILLS OF

BLOOD / BODY SUBSTANCES

• Sodium hypochlorite product is preferred

(household chlorine bleach may be used)

• In patient-care settings, use a 1:100 dilution to decontaminate surfaces after cleaning

• In laboratory, 1:10 dilution for the first application before cleaning

STAGES FOR CLEANING SPILLS OF

BLOOD / BODY SUBSTANCES

• Let it stand for 15-30 minutes

• After cleaning, remove rubber gloves and apron, place them in a container for cleaning and disinfection

• Remove gown and place it into appropriate container

• Perform hand hygiene

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING STRATEGIES

FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SURFACES FOR

PATIENT CARE AREAS

• Use disinfectants in accordance with the

manufacture’s instruction

• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces on a

more frequent schedule than minimal-touch

surfaces

• Clean up spills promptly

• Avoid dusting or sweeping

• Brooms re-disperse dust and bacteria into

the air and SHOULD NOT BE USED in

patient treatment area or in food

preparation and service area

• More suitable methods are the use of

vacuum cleaner or dust attracting mops

• Wet-dust horizontal surfaces daily by

moistening a cloth with a small amount of

detergent / disinfectant

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY

• Prepare cleaning solutions

daily or as needed, and

replace with fresh solutions

frequently

• Mops and other cleaning

equipment should be:

-in good condition

-washed with soap and

water, disinfected

-drained and stored dry

CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN

HEALTHCARE FACILITY