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Oxydiff provides a highly effective no rinse no wipe disinfection of hard surfaces
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Preventing Hospital Acquired Infections

by sphmedicaladmin

Environmental Disinfection To Prevent Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s)

Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s) are a common cause of death in healthcare facilities and represent a significant cost burden. A recent study found that influenza-associated hospitalization affected 156,097 people in Germany. However, many of these infections could be prevented by proper cleaning and disinfection of the environments in which they occur.  Hospitals are challenged with having sick patients that come in from the community with transmittable diseases that can often put other patients at risk.  In other cases like patients who develop Clostridium Difficile infections while in the hospital can also transmit this very difficult to kill, spore forming bacteria, to nurses, objects, or surfaces where the spores can survive for months.  For this reason a focus on environmental disinfection of patient care areas and surgical suites is absolutely critical.

Top Stubborn Pathogens That Cause Hospital Acquired Infections

Several resistant organisms cause significant problems in healthcare facilities. The CDC has identified the following as the most common multidrug-resistant healthcare-associated pathogens:

  • MRSA
  • Clostridium deficile
  • CRE
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Norovirus

What Are The 5 Common Challenges Facing Healthcare Facilities In Environmental Disinfection?

Unfavorable Structural Design

Two central issues facing healthcare facilities are the design of their physical plant and the limitations that these restrictions imposed on the disinfection process. Structurally, healthcare facilities are often built with materials that inhibit disinfection. The most common example is the glazed tile, often used in hospitals to protect against infection. This surface is difficult to disinfect and can also harbor organisms.

Overcrowded Hospital Units

Another challenge facing healthcare facilities is the overcrowding of patients. This increases the number of patients in beds, chairs, and others, leading to further contact with surfaces in the patient’s environment. It also leads to more cross-contamination of surfaces as staff must frequently change linens or clean bedding on these beds.

Poor Toilet Sanitation

Toilets present a significant challenge because of poor sanitation and maintenance. The CDC reports a significant number of inpatient facilities have poorly sanitized toilets. Contamination of these surfaces can be spread between patients and other areas in the facility.

Misuse Of Handwash Sinks

Handwashing stations are in important tool in fighting infections and cross contamination.  However they can also be are a central focus of environmental contamination in healthcare facilities. There can be a significant amount of bacterial contamination that occurs on these sinks. Therefore, cross-contamination is risky between areas without proper cleaning and disinfection.

Hospital Waste Management

Finally, hospital waste management presents particular risks to environmental hygiene. Healthcare facilities dispose of their used items in many ways. The inappropriate handling of these items can lead to toxic pathogens, which may be dangerous to patients.

What Are The CDC Guidelines For Hospital Disinfection?

Infection control in hospitals is critical to preventing organisms from infecting patients. This includes the disinfection of surfaces touched by the hands or clothing of healthcare personnel, patients, or visitors to prevent disease transmission.

There are guidelines developed by the federal government and the CDC which require hospitals to disinfect their patient rooms after each day. The guidelines state that room surfaces, such as floors, walls, and toilets, should be disinfected with a recommended detergent solution every 24 hours. Additionally, healthcare facilities should perform surface disinfection of rooms where patients change linens or bedding frequently.

How Do You Perform Disinfection?

The CDC guidelines recommend that healthcare facilities disinfect their patient rooms using a multi‐component, antimicrobial system to remove bacteria resistant to antibiotics that can cause infection. The recommended EPA approved product for these surfaces is Oxydiff.

Why Use Oxydiff?

The chemical solution is a broad-spectrum disinfection EPA approved to kill C. diff spores in 2 minutes and an extremely wide range of other organisms, including viruses, fungi, and molds. The solution is also non-corrosive and is rinse-free after application. It allows for efficient disinfection because it is easy to apply with a sprayer, mop, or cloth. It costs about the same as other disinfectants but may be cheaper because its ease of application reduces personnel labor time.

Why Is Environmental Disinfection Critical To The Success Of Hospital Acquired Infections Prevention?

Environmental disinfection is critical to the success of Hospital Acquired Infections prevention because it reduces the overall cross-contamination within a given facility and thereby helps prevent the transmission of infectious organisms in healthcare facilities. In addition, it is also critical because it contributes to a cleaner environment and better patient health outcomes.

Hospital Acquired Infections Prevention Conclusion

Hospital Acquired infections are costly to hospitals and healthcare systems because they negatively impact patient care, patient satisfaction, staff turnover, and device failure rates. Hospitals must prioritize environmental disinfection in light of rising costs and potential loss associated with HAIs.

SPH Medical supports Environmental Disinfection to reduce HAIs
CategoriesInfection Prevention

Environmental Disinfection to Prevent HAIs

by sphmedicaladmin

Environmental Disinfection to Prevent HAIs

Each year, about 1.7 million Americans get an infection while hospitalized, and about 99,000 die. This makes hospital acquired infections (HAIs) the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. The cost to hospitals for treating or to prevent HAIs is estimated to be as high as $28 billion per year.

The most common HAIs are urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections. However, any infection in a hospital setting can be considered an HAI. They can be caused by various microbes, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Many different microbes can cause HAIs in hospitals. The most common include MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (Clostridium deficile), CRE (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and norovirus. Each of these pathogens poses a severe risk to patients, and some are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Understanding Environmental Disinfection

Environmental disinfection is destroying harmful microorganisms on surfaces to prevent the spread of infection. Disease causing microorganisms can be spread from one patient to another on environmental surfaces such as bed rails, door knobs, and countertops.
Various methods can be used for disinfection, including washing with soap and water, exposure to ultraviolet light, and using chemicals. Advanced disinfectants are a new generation of chemicals that are EPA approved and designed to be more effective against a wider range of microbes.

One type of disinfectant is hydrogen peroxide vapor, which is effective against various bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Another type of advanced disinfectant is ozone, which can penetrate surfaces more effectively than other chemicals and is also effective against a wide range of pathogens. In addition, advanced disinfectants are often less toxic than conventional chemicals, making them safer for use in healthcare settings.

One of the most difficult to kill bacteria is C. diff spores, which can live on surfaces for months. Oxydiff is a new advanced disinfectant that kills C. diff spores in 2 minutes, is EPA approved, and can be sprayed with a simple spray bottle, sprayed with an electrostatic sprayer, or used in a fogger. It is essential to use a product like Oxydiff that is effective against these tough bacteria and viruses to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Environmental disinfection is critical to Prevent HAIs for several reasons

First, hospital surfaces are a common source of infection. The disease causing organisms can spread from one patient to another via contaminated surfaces, leading to severe and deadly infections. Second, many pathogens resist traditional disinfectants, making environmental disinfection a challenge. Multi-drug resistant organisms, or MDROs, are becoming increasingly common and pose a severe threat to patients.

Challenges Faced During Environmental Disinfection

One of the biggest challenges is finding effective disinfectants that can kill resistant disease causing organisms.
Another challenge is ensuring that all surfaces are properly disinfected. For environmental disinfection to be effective, all surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected regularly. This can be difficult in a busy hospital where staff is often short-staffed.
Hospitals also face the challenge of educating staff and patients about the importance of environmental disinfection in preventing infection.

Staff must be aware of the dangers posed by MDROs and how they can help prevent the spread of infection. Patients must also be educated about good hygiene practices and how they can help reduce the risk of infection.

CDC Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published guidelines for hospital disinfection. These guidelines provide direction on how to properly disinfect surfaces to help prevent the spread of infection. Some of the key points from the CDC guidelines include:

  • Surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water before they are disinfected.
  • Disinfectants should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Surfaces should be allowed to air dry or dried with a clean, lint-free cloth.
  • Hospital staff should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
  • Patients should be encouraged to practice good hygiene, including handwashing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  • Hospital rooms should be ventilated to help prevent the spread of infection.

The CDC guidelines are based on the best available evidence and provide a framework for hospital disinfection. However, each hospital is unique and some adaptations may be necessary to ensure that the CDC guidelines are met.

There are many different ways to disinfect surfaces, and it is essential to use a method that is effective against the type of bacteria or virus present. By taking steps to ensure a clean and disinfected environment, we can help prevent HAIs.

CategoriesPatient Handling

Mobile Devices Threaten Patient Safety

by sphmedicaladmin

In a well written article published in Infection Control Today, author Kelly M. Pyrek explores the risks that mobile devices are creating for patients and cites evidence from several key studies that we should be concerned and doing more to decontaminate these mobile devices.

Mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices are potential transport mechanisms for harmful bacteria and viruses that can infect patients and staff alike.

Kelly M. Pyrek writes “This study indicates that unreported antibiotic resistant bacterial contaminants of mobile phones of patients may be a matter of great concern.  Hence, it is recommended that all patients admitted in hospitals be educated about guidelines of using mobile phones, regular disinfection of their mobile phones, hand hygiene and be advised not to share mobile phones with other people so that role of contaminated mobile phones in the spread of nosocomial infections can be prevented to some extent.”

A link to the article can be found below.

About SPH Medical:

SPH Medical provide solutions to healthcare facilities to reduce the risk of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s) and workplace injuries resulting from manual patient handling.   The new AUVS – UV disinfection device rapidly disinfects mobile phones, tablets, iPads, and portable hospital equipment.   The Halo disinfection system Kills 99.9999% of C. diff spores throughout an entire room.  Visit SPH Medical for more information:  https://sphmedical.com/auvs-disinfect-phones-tablets

Watch the AUVS disinfection system in action:

http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/2017/02/mobile-technology-disinfection-contaminated-devices-pose-threat-to-patients.aspx

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