Hospital cleaning protocols

Some people may well find it a little ironic, but hospitals are some of the riskiest places around when it comes to health matters. It’s common sense actually if you think about it - hospitals care for the sick and house and treat many sick people, which means that other people, whether sick or well, can potentially be exposed to the bacteria, viruses or other infectious agents that made these ill people sick in the first place. This is why hospital cleaning protocols are in place, and why they are so rigorous - they must make sure that these places are kept as clean as possible in order to prevent such illnesses from spreading.

Many of these protocols are age-old or stem from established practices that are still quite applicable in today’s world. But many of these practices are backed up and abetted by new technology - those practices which these technologies have not rendered obsolete, that is. In addition, other concerns such as environmental friendliness are also impacting these cleaning protocols, as hospitals are learning more and more about the importance of reducing their environmental impact. So such important new supplies as microfiber mops or wiping cloths and environmentally friendly cleaning fluids are also having a considerable effect upon these protocols.

 The bulk of these cleaning protocols have to do with places where patients stay and/or are treated, such as operating rooms or theaters, waiting rooms, or patient rooms. Only disinfectants that are certified hospital grade and approved by the EPA may be used to clean the rooms. Areas that are known “high-touch” areas, or areas which are most likely to have been touched or used by patients, should be focused on. These areas include the top, sides and front of beds, including the headboards, bed frames, side rails, and mattresses (some hospitals sanitize mattresses using more elaborate and/or deeper penetrating techniques); remotes and control areas of television sets; assistance buttons and telephones; and other areas that are usually touched or manipulated such as elevator buttons, tables, drawers, door handles or levers, and so on.

Bathrooms also need attention - sinks and their fixtures as well as any other areas that are touched, such as toilet bowl or urinal flush levers, buttons or knobs, shower knobs, shower doors, assistance bars, and horizontal surfaces, are always cleaned intensively. 

Other areas that must be kept clean are those areas that relate to food preparation and serving, such as cafeterias and in-house food services that prepare food for stay-in patients. All utensils, plates and other such equipment are kept sterile, as are the equipment used to prepare and serve the food. Cleaning solutions that are more appropriate for use around food are used in these areas, as some industrial-strength cleaners may cause poisoning if used around food.

Even hallways and other such areas are not exempt from these stringent hospital cleaning protocols. It is not unlikely that such areas would be exposed to body fluids from sick persons, for instance, and could thus become areas where infections could be passed on. They are thus cleaned regularly as well using industrial-strength cleaners.