Maternal mortality rates perplexed European doctors during the 19th century. Postpartum fever infected women, and traditional treatments proved ineffective to diminish mortality. In 1847, the Hungarian physician Semmelweis proposed that washing hands with calcium hypochlorite could prevent this dilemma. The publication of his results was productive, and mortality almost disappeared. However, his peers were displeased with Semmelweis’ research since it contradicted the majority’s medical opinions. He died in 1865, rebuked by his colleagues, in a mental asylum. His theories found acceptance only when Pasteur and Lister successfully proved the validity of the germ theory of diseases.
Hospital-acquired infections
You can imagine how many people must’ve died just because they picked up a disease in a healthcare center. The modern expression for such maladies is an HAI (hospital-acquired infection) or a nosocomial infection. These infections are common in ICU-housed patients since patients are incredibly vulnerable. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 also made people ask whether it was safe to visit a hospital. Folks were afraid of catching this dreadful disease at a medical facility. Some other popular HAIs include:
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Gastroenteritis
Categories of patient-room cleaning
Furthermore, CDC reported that three-fourths of Clostridium difficile infections emerged from hospital-associated infections. This is why the clinic/hospital staff must concentrate on their regular cleaning duties. Many workers prefer using commonly-sold brands to disinfect a patient’s room. But using unauthorized chemicals doesn’t promise expected results. We’ll talk about some EPA-registered chemicals soon. But, before that, let Kaivac explain three categories of patient-room cleaning:
- Occupied:- Cleaning a patient’s room that is occupied currently.
- Turnover:- Cleaning a patient’s room when the occupant has been relocated or discharged.
- Terminal:- Cleaning a patient’s room by the end of the day (a lengthy procedure).
Tips for clinical housekeeping
A 2019 research showed that 10% of patients acquired an HAI while in the hospital. Therefore, sanitation and housekeeping procedures conducted in a healthcare facility require extreme caution. It’ll prevent patients from succumbing to a disease that can be deadlier than the one they already have. Hospitals are places for healing, not the houses where germs can accumulate, and maladies might be harbored. So, here are some suggestions you can follow to ascertain the removal of many HAIs:
1. Listen to experts
Healthcare administrators manage and oversee complex operations, including housekeeping in a medical facility. These professionals have acquired relevant qualifications, such as a masters in health administration online from a reputable institute. Their responsibilities include ensuring the maintenance of cautious cleaning procedures to diminish the risk of HAI transmission. The cleaning staff must consider vigilantly following the recommendations and suggestions forwarded by the admins.
2. Wear protective gear
Wearing PPP (personal protective equipment) has become more than essential for hospital housekeepers. This gear doesn’t just prevent cleaners from spreading germs all over the place. But it also protects them from getting infected with bacteria and viruses. The purpose of PPE is to reduce contamination and safeguard everyone against deadly viruses. Staff should wash their hands before wearing disposable aprons. They must remember to safely dispose of these pieces of equipment after they’ve finished. Never leave a patient’s room without cleansing your hands properly. Change gloves between different cleaning sessions and don’t wear them in hallways.
3. Reduce air pollution
In the 19th century, people discovered that keeping the air in a patient’s vicinity diminishes the risks of infection. An air purifier installed in a patient’s room doesn’t sound like a bad idea, after all. These devices emit ozone particles or negative ions to sanitize the air. On the other hand, air cleaners (such as the HEPA ones) filter the air by collecting the environment’s dust. Reducing air pollution keeps biological hazards away from vulnerable patients and curb the threat from HIAs.
4. Care about visitors
Remembers that visitors are mere guests who are probably unfamiliar with the general healthcare guidelines. So, make them understand that they can’t sit on the patient’s bed or handle his/her equipment. They must sanitize their hands whenever they enter/leave your room. It’ll prevent them from coming inside with germs. Moreover, don’t allow guests to meet the patient if guests are sick or show symptoms of being sick. Don’t risk them passing their diseases on to the patient.
5. Use EPA-approved chemicals
After the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, EPA issued a list of approved chemicals people can use as disinfectants. We’ll list here the first major ones EPA suggests hospitals should utilize to reduce threats of HAIs. Don’t rely on the names of some famous brands. Read the description on the bottle and make sure your favorite brand includes the chemicals EPA has authorized. The following chemicals are environmentally safe and effective combatants against many germs:
- Peracetic acid
- Quaternary ammonium
- Phenolics (carbolic acid)
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
- AHP (accelerated hydrogen peroxide)
6. Start with clean places
Some cleaners often make the mistake of starting with the dirtiest location and prefer washing and sanitizing clean places in the end. This pattern increases your chance to spread pathogens all over the patient’s room. Instead, it would be best if you began from the tidiest location and then move on to the dirtier place. So, by this logic, cleaning the healthiest patient’s room first seems appropriate. Postpone cleaning the unhealthiest patient’s room until all healthy people have been served.
7. Wash your hands
When the coronavirus first spread in Europe, health experts issue some urgent guidelines to combat this pathogen. These suggestions included regular washing one’s hands with soap and water. Studies show that washing your hands for 15 seconds kills 90% of bacteria. But add another 15 seconds, and you can get rid of 99.99% of these nasty germs. For viruses, though, 20 seconds are ideal! So, wash and sanitize your hand often. Don’t touch anything the patient may come into contact with unless you’ve washed your hands. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and encourage patients to imitate. Cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze, and always keep a handkerchief.
8. Avoid cross-contamination:-
The mops and rugs your staff has used may contribute to the spread of deadly diseases since the cleaners use these items to purify contaminated locations. That’s why disposing of these contaminants immediately has become a challenge for healthcare workers. You can lessen the chances of cross-contamination by spraying and vacuuming these cleaning objects. Use cleaning sprays to ensure bacteria don’t leave the contaminated area.
Conclusion
Now we know that washing hands wasn’t a childish suggestion at all. It could’ve prevented precious lives had other physicians listened to their one Hungarian counterpart. During the age of coronavirus, healthcare professionals can save many patients by keeping clinics/hospitals clean. Proper sanitization and EPA-approved disinfection methods protect people from nosocomial infections. As per CDC, 1 in 25 hospital patients in the USA contract at least one HAI every year. Moreover, 2,500 healthcare facilities were collectively fined around $420 million in 2015 because of HAI-related mismanagements. The dangers of COVID-19 have further alarmed medical centers about also promoting cleanliness.
