Hospital terminal cleaning is a process by which we keep the different areas of the hospital completely free of harmful microorganisms. One thing that contributes the most to the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, and other types of organisms is poor hygiene.
Sites that are poorly cleaned and sanitized are high-risk areas for human health, regardless of age or gender. However, in hospitals, this situation can become more dangerous, since we perform surgical and other procedures.
Hundreds of sick or injured people enter these public or private institutions every day. Because of this, to prevent other patients from becoming infected or aggravating their own conditions and ailments, more rigorous and effective professional cleaning is necessary.
It is not only about removing dirt from surfaces but about eliminating any type of organism, whether pathogenic, from the environment. This is where the method known as terminal cleaning comes in.
Hospital cleaning: What it is and types of cleaning
As we have been commenting, hospitals, because of their characteristics, require completely rigorous hygiene. All the space surrounding the patient must comply with the procedures established by the institution to prevent outbreaks of infections; even more so now that there is a pandemic.
In this sense, removing dust, particles, and organic matter is part of the first cleaning process. We then applied methods to maintain hospital areas in favorable conditions. Hospital terminal cleaning is part of these cleaning techniques.
To understand hospital terminal cleaning, you must first know that there are different cleaning and sanitizing procedures in hospitals.
routine
Routine hospital cleaning, as its name shows, is one of the personnel carried out in charge of this work daily. It is one of the most common and well-known since efficient methods and products such as detergents are applied. Although it has its own procedure, like the other cleanings, it is a bit more generic because it covers the entire hospital.
competitor
Hospital concurrent cleaning is a procedure performed by professionals in the field during hospitalization. It is basically a toilet that occurs immediately after the expulsion of any type of body fluid from the patient.
The moment surfaces or objects come into contact with these fluids, they become contaminated, so it can become a health risk for both other patients and the medical staff themselves.
We should note that concurrent cleaning is also done in other spaces, such as restrooms, nursing units, and even the cafeteria. This is a basic cleaning procedure in public or private hospitals.
Terminal
Hospital terminal cleaning is much more specific since it occurs immediately after the patient leaves the unit or room in which he/she was. Whether due to discharge, transfer, or death, the staff must perform extremely rigorous sterilization, where more specialized products are used.
From the walls and sinks to the urinals and floors, every corner of the space where the patient was, must be completely cleaned and sterilized. This last procedure will eliminate many organisms present in the room, pathogenic or non-pathogenic.
Thanks to the professional products used, microorganisms will be prevented from reappearing in the area.
Hospital terminal cleaning: how is the cleaning procedure
Cleaning protocols, including terminal disinfection, are divided into high-risk, medium-risk, and lower-risk zones.
The first to receive attention are those sites that do not represent an immediate risk, and then move on to the most complicated places.
We should note that we must use the products in a specific way to avoid dust dispersion.
The latter means that brooms and dusters, among other utensils, cannot be used. During the cleaning procedure, we must strictly follow all biosafety regulations. The personnel in charge of this task must use equipment, uniforms, machines, and products shown for the work.
Personnel trained for the task must carry hospital terminal cleaning, together with other types of cleaning, out. They use specific and effective techniques for the elimination of microorganisms in the health center or hospital.
All surfaces must be cleaned, including windows, knobs, doors, etc. You also have to pay attention to objects in high places, chairs, tables, and beds. Also bathrooms, curtains, floors, walls, and all the elements that are in the spaces to be cleaned.
When spills produced by the patient’s fluids occur, we must carry out a specific cleaning technique, using gloves, absorbent elements, and sanitizing products. The affected area is cleaned first and then the rest of the room.
We should mention that by using products that are both detergents and disinfectants, it will not be necessary to apply a disinfection process. Something that should be avoided at all costs is mixing cleaning chemicals because the fumes they produce can be extremely dangerous.
Likewise, clothes, gloves, clothing, and items used during cleaning must go through a sanitizing process before using it again.
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