Reducing HAIs with touchpoint disinfecting

In the face of the coronavirus, many healthcare facilities are reviewing cleaning and disinfecting practices, according to an article on the CleanLink website.

"In a hospital environment, commonly touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least once a day," said Bill Fellows, a consultant in Nashville, Tenn., with more than 54 years of experience in the cleaning business. "With COVID-19, some hospital custodians are cleaning surfaces every hour."

While around-the-clock cleaning may not be feasible for all facilities, EVS staff should focus their efforts on one of the most challenging areas to disinfect: the vicinity in and around the hospital bed, also known as the patient hot zone.

Jessi Moffat is an environmental services director who oversees long-term skilled nursing and assisted living at Shady Lane Inc. in Manitowoc, Wis. Her staff is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting all high-touch points in the resident rooms on a regular basis.

"The most important object to clean and disinfect is the bed itself," she says. "This includes providing regular linen changes and disinfecting the mattress and bed frame along with bed controls, remotes, buttons, grab bars and call lights. Surfaces near the bed may include over-the-bed tables with items like television remotes and phones."

Read the article.