Germs in Healthcare Facilities
Medical centers contain large amounts of bacteria, some of which live in areas that appear to be clean. From waiting rooms and elevators to hospital beds and equipment, germs can live and spread on many touch points. Incorporating reliable disinfecting products that are EPA registered to be effective against some of the most common contaminants will reduce the spread of harmful bacteria in an environment.
HAIs, also known as healthcare-associated infections, are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, nearly 1.7 million Americans develop these infections from visiting doctor’s offices, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and more. An estimated 20% to 40% of HAIs have been attributed to cross-infection via the hands of health care personnel who have become contaminated from direct contact with patients, or indirectly, by touching contaminated surfaces. Some HAIs that are most commonly found include Influenza, Klebsiella, MRSA, E. coli, Hepatitis, and more.
Hotspots in Healthcare
Healthcare facilities contain many hotspot areas due to patients, nurses, doctors, and families moving from one room to another. The disinfection process should be completed on a regular basis throughout the day, especially during a patient’s visit. Germs and bacteria can spread in less than one second from one surface to another. It is important to kill bacteria on a hard, non-porous surface by disinfecting the area in which it lives.
Patient Rooms: Bacteria and other microorganisms can live for weeks on stainless steel and other types of hard hospital surfaces. Spot disinfecting these surfaces with Dreumex Disinfecting Wipes regularly will eliminate the potential of cross-contamination and reduce the spread of harmful bacteria.
Elevator Buttons: An elevator is touched by dozens of people who come into contact with a variety of bacteria every hour, making it a major point for cross-contamination and spread of disease. Monk® Disinfectant Wipes kill 99.9% of bacteria and are effective against the bacteria commonly found on elevator buttons.
Waiting Rooms: Patients, their families, and clinic staff can easily transport harmful bacteria into the waiting rooms that are picked up from other areas in the building. Avoid placing infected patients close to one another and safeguard against infection by frequently wiping tables, pens, and clipboards with Dreumex Surface Disinfecting Wipes.
Healthcare Equipment: Items such as badges, clipboards, and pens should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to reduce the spread of germs. By adding Dreumex Disinfecting Wipes to your daily maintenance program, your staff is able to clean, disinfect, and deodorize within a matter of minutes.
Food Trays & Cafeterias: Food trays and cafeterias are considered to be major hotspots in hospitals and emergency rooms as they can be home to a variety of germs. Studies have found that cafeteria trays contain higher levels of germs than bathrooms and gym mats. Dreumex Food Contact Surface Disinfecting Wipes are safe for food contact surfaces and are ready to use with no need to rinse.
Preventing the Spread
Stopping the spread of germs and bacteria can be prevented by utilizing reliable disinfecting products that are effective and convenient. Installing disinfecting stations throughout an establishment and in high traffic areas is a great way to control the spread of illness. Contact our sales team today at sales-usa@dreumex.com to discuss options to enhance cleaning protocols with disinfection solutions.