It doesn't have to be cold and flu season for you to be concerned about the spread of infections; infection prevention is a year-round priority. Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take to safeguard our shared spaces against the invisible threats lurking within your facilities.
This article will explore how a comprehensive approach to cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing, coupled with innovative technologies, can enhance infection prevention.
Deep Cleaning For Infection Prevention
In infection prevention, "deep cleaning" goes beyond standard cleaning procedures to ensure that surfaces and environments are thoroughly disinfected and free from harmful microorganisms. It involves a more comprehensive and meticulous approach to cleaning that focuses on eliminating the potential sources of infections.
Here's what deep cleaning means in terms of infection prevention:
- Removal of Contaminants: Not just visible dirt but also microscopic pathogens that may be present using disinfectants according to guidelines.
- Focus on High-Touch Surfaces To Avoid Cross-Contamination: High-touch surfaces, which many people commonly handle, receive special attention as these are known to be hotspots for pathogen transmission.
- Regular Cleaning Protocol Enhancements: Improvements, adaptations, and documented training based on the latest best practices and guidelines for infection prevention.
- Attention to Hidden and Less-Accessible Areas: Covering areas potentially overlooked during routine cleaning, including less accessible or hidden spots where pathogens can accumulate.
- Documentation and Verification: Deep cleaning often involves using technologies and documentation methods, such as digital imaging or ATP testing, to verify the effectiveness of the cleaning process, providing objective evidence of cleanliness.
How Infections Spread In Shared Spaces
Infections can spread in a facility through various pathways, and understanding these modes of transmission is critical for effective infection prevention. Some common ways pathogens spread in a facility include:
- Direct Contact: Infections can spread from person to person through physical touch, like handshakes and hugs.
- Indirect Contact: Germs on surfaces can transfer to people when they touch those surfaces and their faces.
- Airborne: Infections can travel through tiny droplets in the air when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes.
This article focuses on indirect contact and how precision cleaning helps prevent the spread via surfaces.
High-Touch Surfaces: A Breeding Ground for Infections
When it comes to infection prevention, identifying high-touch surfaces is the first crucial step. When an infected person touches a surface, they can leave behind pathogens. These pathogens can survive on surfaces for varying durations, depending on the type of microorganism. From there, it's easy for people to unwittingly introduce these pathogens into their bodies by touching their faces, eyes, nose, or mouth. This hand-to-face contact is a common route for infection entry.
Identifying High-Touch Surfaces In Your Facility
The simplest way to identify high-touch surfaces is through direct observation. Walk through your facility and take note of the surfaces that people frequently come into contact with. Pay attention to the flow of people within the facility. Areas with heavy foot traffic or where people congregate are more likely to have high-touch surfaces. Healthcare and food preparation facilities will have many more considerations.
- Door Handles and Knobs
- Light Switches
- Elevator Buttons
- Handrails
- Countertops and Tables
- Shared Electronics
- ATM and Vending Machine Buttons
- Appliance Handles
- Washroom Fixtures
- Gym Equipment
- Towels & Bedding
However, this is not foolproof, and missing some less obvious ones can be easy. Conducting a thorough assessment using specialist technology, like surface imaging and bio-luminescent spray, can create a visual map of hidden germs.
Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing Are Not The Same
Knowing the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing is essential for infection prevention. High-touch surfaces need this extra care, going beyond just cleaning to ensure germs are entirely gone, keeping everyone safer.
Cleaning removes visible dirt and impurities but doesn’t remove germs.
Sanitizing reduces the number of pathogens (harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses) on surfaces or objects to a level considered safe by public health standards.
Disinfecting removes harmful germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungi from surfaces, objects, or the surroundings, helping to prevent infections by making things as germ-free as possible.
Choosing Disinfectants and Sanitizers
When looking for disinfectants and sanitizers in Canada, it's important to consider several factors to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Here are key aspects to consider:
- DIN (Drug Identification Number):The Drug Identification Number is issued by Health Canada for disinfectants and sanitizers. It indicates that the product has been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality. Make sure the product you choose has a valid DIN.
- EPA Registration:Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration is not applicable in Canada, some disinfectants may have EPA registration if they are also intended for use in the United States. While EPA registration isn't required in Canada, it can provide additional assurance of the product's effectiveness.
- Broad-Spectrum Efficacy: Look for products effective against various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This is especially important for ensuring comprehensive disinfection.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Suppliers of disinfectants and sanitizers must provide Safety Data Sheets that contain information on the product's hazards, safe handling, and first aid measures. Review the SDS to ensure safe usage.
- Active Ingredients: Know the active ingredients in the product, as different ingredients have varying efficacy against specific pathogens. Common active ingredients include quaternary ammonium compounds, hydrogen peroxide, or ethanol.
- Instructions for Use: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper dilution, application, and dwell time. Ensure that the product is used as directed for optimal results.
- Eco-Responsible Options: If environmental concerns are a priority, look for environmentally responsible disinfectants that meet sustainability standards, like EcoLogo.
- Storage and Handling: Follow proper storage and handling guidelines to maintain the product's effectiveness and safety.
- Availability and Supply Chain: Ensure the product is readily available and the supplier can consistently meet your facility's needs.
Our Picks: Here are two recommended general, broad-use hard-surface disinfecting products.
Swish Miracle Spray & Wipe: This fast-acting, ready-to-use cleaner is a powerful EPA and DIN-registered disinfectant, ideal for healthcare facilities, capable of effectively tackling various pathogens on multiple surfaces.
Swish® Quato™ 44 General Purpose Disinfectant
This concentrated detergent/disinfectant is a multi-purpose solution, meeting hospital and institutional cleaning needs for cross-contamination control. Registered with EPA and DIN, it rapidly disinfects and deodorizes, targeting various pathogens, including Staph, Salmonella, and E. coli.
The Crucial Role of Cleaning Validation
Cleaning validation is a critical process that involves verifying and documenting that cleaning procedures effectively remove contaminants, pathogens, and residues from surfaces and equipment. It ensures that surfaces are visually clean and free from hidden or microscopic contaminants that can risk infection transmission.
Cleaning validation is important for reducing the spread of infections from surfaces for several reasons:
- Pathogen Removal: Many pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, can remain on surfaces even after routine cleaning. Cleaning validation ensures that your team has successfully removed these harmful microorganisms, reducing the risk of transmission.
- Consistency: It establishes consistency in cleaning processes. Facilities can't rely solely on individual judgment or occasional visual checks. Cleaning validation provides a systematic and objective approach to confirming cleanliness.
- Preventing Cross-Contamination and Outbreak Prevention: Proper cleaning validation ensures that pathogens don't transfer from one person or area to another.
- Compliance: Many industries, such as healthcare and food service, are subject to regulations and guidelines that require cleaning validation. Compliance with these standards is essential for public health and safety.
- Public Confidence: In settings like hospitals, schools, and public shared spaces, public confidence in the cleanliness of the environment is crucial. Documented and transparent cleaning processes and results can help ensure this confidence by demonstrating a commitment to hygiene and infection control.
Harnessing Innovative Technologies for Validation
The world of cleaning validation is evolving rapidly, thanks to innovative technologies. Some of the top technologies include:
Surface Imaging Technology: Advanced imaging systems, such as digital microscopes and specialist cameras, can provide a visual assessment of surface cleanliness, highlighting areas that may require further cleaning or disinfection.
ATP Testing: Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) testing measures the presence of organic matter and living microorganisms on surfaces. It provides a quick and real-time cleanliness assessment by detecting residual ATP, which indicates possible contamination.
Fluorescent Markers and Black Lights: Using tools to mark surfaces with a fluorescent dye visible under black (UV) light. After cleaning, the UV light detects any remaining marks, indicating areas that need further attention.
Our pick: Surface imaging technology like Optisolve's Pathfinder™ surface imaging technology allows facility managers and cleaning teams to assess surfaces for contamination, visually detect any risks, and fine-tune their cleaning practices for improved environmental monitoring, health and safety assurance, and facility performance. Better yet, Swish now offers a new Swish Clean Checkup™ facility assessment services using this technology.
Technologies For Precision Cleaning and Disinfection
Eco-responsible Chemical Surface Disinfectants
There are many more options that are eco-responsible, including Enviro-Solutions® ES64H Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner, which is a no NPE (Nonylphenol ethoxylate), non-alkaline, and neutral pH formula for disinfectants that is gentle on surfaces and safer for the environment.
Two other sustainable options include:
Swish Clean & Green® #7 Disinfectant Concentrate: Versatile and effective, this multi-purpose concentrated disinfectant cleaner is a go-to product for general cleaning applications. EcoLogo certified, it is safe and easily applied using a Swish® Clean and Green® disinfectant bottle, mop, and microfibre cloths.
Enviro-Solutions® ES65H Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfectant Cleaner: A lighter disinfectant cleaner and sanitizer for use on nonporous environmental surfaces. It has no fragrance or dye, is EcoLogo certified, yet kills 99.99% of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can lead to illness.
UV-C Disinfection
Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light devices can kill or inactivate microorganisms on surfaces. These devices are used in various settings, including healthcare and food service, to disinfect high-touch surfaces and equipment.
Electrostatic Sprayers
These devices apply disinfectants or cleaning solutions in a charged mist, allowing them to adhere more effectively to surfaces and provide a more even distribution of disinfectant. The Multi-Clean® E-Spray Backpack Electrostatic Sprayer is a battery-powered backpack e-sprayer for exceptional freedom of movement.
Robotic Cleaners
Autonomous robots equipped with cleaning and disinfection capabilities can navigate facilities and execute thorough cleaning protocols, improving consistency and reducing the risk of human error. For a robotic A.I. floor scrubber that provides the ultimate in cleaning efficiency, check out the Tennant® T380AMR Robotic Floor Scrubber.
Evaluating and Improving Cleaning Protocols
To take your infection prevention efforts to the next level, assessing the quality of your existing cleaning protocols is imperative. This involves looking at the effectiveness of your current processes and making necessary improvements. The key is adopting a continuous monitoring, feedback, and adaptation culture. By doing so, you can ensure that your facility's cleaning protocols remain effective and up-to-date.
Effectiveness Evaluation
Regular assessment of the quality and effectiveness of your cleaning protocols is essential for infection prevention. This involves more than just visual inspections. It requires thoroughly evaluating the methods, products, and equipment used to clean and disinfect surfaces. By scrutinizing these elements, you can pinpoint areas where improvements are needed.
Identification of Shortfalls
The assessment process should aim to identify shortfalls or deficiencies in your current cleaning procedures. It could reveal specific high-touch surfaces that require more attention or highlight areas where contamination persists despite cleaning efforts.
Feedback Loop
One of the critical aspects of improving cleaning protocols is creating a feedback loop. Encourage input from cleaning staff and facility users to gather insights on what works and doesn't. This feedback can help in tailoring protocols to specific needs and challenges.
Centralized Software vs. Paper Checklists
The method of documenting and centralizing cleaning protocol data plays a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness of these efforts. Here's how centralized software and paper checklists compare in this context:
| Paper Checklists: | Centralized Software: |
- Time-consuming and prone to human error - Limited data accessibility with physical storage - Lack of real-time insights for quick response - Data discrepancies, damage or loss | - Efficiency by streamlining and automating data collection - Accessibility and improved proactive analysis - Alerts and notifications to identify issues and improve accountability - Improved consistency and accuracy of the data |
Critical Concerns for Facility Managers and Decision-Makers
For facility managers and those responsible for public shared spaces, several critical concerns should be on their radar. Staff training and compliance are pivotal, as even the most advanced technology will only be effective with well-trained personnel. Balancing budgets and investments for deep cleaning is another challenge, but the cost of outbreaks and illness can far exceed preventive measures. Finally, eco-responsible cleaning practices are gaining traction due to sustainability concerns, ensuring we protect people and the planet.
We must stress that you should always follow the guidelines in your local area and industry and follow manufacturing instructions.
For general infection prevention guidance:
https://ipac-canada.org/infection-prevention-and-control-resources
Conclusion
Infection prevention is not a one-size-fits-all. To go beyond surface-level cleaning and truly enhance the safety of your facility, it's essential to understand the importance of deep cleaning and cleaning validation. Innovative technologies pave the way for more precise examination and reporting, enabling better quality management. If you're responsible for a public shared facility, it's time to take these insights to heart and prioritize infection prevention.
We invite you to take a proactive step toward enhanced infection prevention by signing up for a Swish Clean Checkup™ review. This assessment will evaluate your current processes, identify shortfalls, and utilize state-of-the-art surface imaging technology and quality management software to analyze your cleaning practices comprehensively. Investing in this assessment protects the health and well-being of those who use your facility and safeguards your organization's reputation and financial stability. Your commitment to deep cleaning and infection prevention will pay dividends in the long run, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for all.
