Hospital environmental services departments continue to have higher demands placed on their ability to aid in the defense against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). While there is no definitive proof that cleaning can prevent HAIs, there are numerous studies that indicate certain cleaning practices can help prevent the spread of HAIs.
According to a recent article in Health Facilities Management, more cleaning product manufacturers are increasing their offerings of training and monitoring services to help hospital EVS teams meet the demands related to HAIs.
The article notes that manufacturers such as Spartan Chemical Co. which has added training, validation and software documentation to its line of cleaning products, wants hospitals to view them as more of a business partner than a vendor.
Spartan is selling ATP testing systems and UV marking swabs, and has partnered with Hygiena to offer tracking software; the newest version can track 5,000 locations and its data is easily shared. Steve Nason, director of sales and marketing at Hygiena, is quoted as saying, "The ATP system should not be viewed as tattletale equipment. It can validate what hospital staff are doing correctly, or motivate them to reach a higher level of cleaning."
In addition to training and monitoring services, there are also improved cleaning products on the market for disinfecting, including hydrogen peroxide vapor. There is also a move toward more hospitals using microfiber mops and cloths in isolation areas.
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