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Re: Environmental Cleaning Methods

#73934 Quote
Helen Truscott
Participant

Author:
Helen Truscott

Email:
Helen.Truscott@NCAHS.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU

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State:

Hi all,
This is such an interesting topic and I am also interested to know how facilities are managing cleaning of the reusable microfibre cloths.

I am concerned about use of domestic washing machines as common place to avoid/ reduce the costs of sending to a commercial hospital laundry.

I would appreciate your views and thoughts.

Kind regards

Helen

Helen Truscott

Clinical Nurse Consultant Infection Prevention & Control Service | Nursing & Midwifery Directorate
NNSW LHD
PO Box 904 Tweed Heads NSW 2485
Tel:07 5506 7227 | Fax :07 5506 7282 | Mob:0418 993745 | Helen.Truscott@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au

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[Clean hands count]

Hi Terry,

Leaving aside the issue of detergents versus disinfectant for routine cleaning purposes (floors) in healthcare facilities my comments are as follows:

Mops with detergent or disinfectant dispensed from the internal channel of the mop handle

* I have seen these mops many years ago. The channel in the mop handles could not be adequately cleaned or disinfected. When we cultured the channels they were contaminated as fluid had remained stagnant in the channel over long periods of time and cleaning agents were simply being topped up. Think you will find the same if you sample the channels of such mops today.

* Such mops are not suitable for use in healthcare facility.

Disposable microfiber wipe system

* I’m assuming the wipes are attached to the base of a mop (? Velcro) and disposed of after so many uses?

* Microfiber will do a better job at cleaning over other types of mopping materials (cotton/foam mop heads).

It is probably a matter of what is practical, easy and the most cost effective option for an organisation i.e. disposable microfiber or standard non microfiber mop heads which can be reusable or disposable.

Regards

Glenys

Glenys Harrington
Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)
P.O. Box 6385
Melbourne
Australia, 3004
M: +61 404816434
E: infexion@ozemail.com.au

Hi Terry

I have seen similar systems for use in hospitals. I don’t think they are unsuitable, it’s just a matter of if they are cost-effective or not. If the microfibre wipes are truly charged microfibre material, they don’t need detergents to collect dirt and debris. The addition of a disinfectant is simply to reduce bioburden more that simple cleaning will do. In my view this is unnecessary, but not inappropriate, if you understand what I mean.

Cleaning with a normal cloth dipped only in disinfectant with no detergency properties would be inappropriate, but that is not what I have seen with microfibre cleaning with the addition of disinfectants. Microfibre charged cloths will attract soils and debris, so do not need a detergent.

I am not 100% sure I am actually addressing your question though, as I will admit I am not 100% sure what you are asking.

Cheers
Michael

Michael Wishart
Infection Control Coordinator

A 627 Rode Road, Chermside QLD 4032
P (07) 3326 3068 | F (07) 3607 2226 | E michael.wishart@svha.org.au | W http://www.hsnph.org.au
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P Please consider the environment before printing this email

Hi Everyone,

I’m coming across environmental cleaning service providers in the Day Surgery sector that are wanting to ‘mop’ floors with a disposable microfiber wipe system used in conjunction with a disinfectant that is either supplied by dipping the wipe in the disinfectant solution or alternatively having the disinfectant poured into the handle of the mop and discharged by the press of a button.

The disposable microfiber wipe is discarded between cleaning different areas, however I am not convinced that this method of cleaning is suitable.

I’d appreciate some feedback from the brains trust please.

Kind Regards
Terry McAuley
Sterilisation & Infection Prevention and Control Consultant
STEAM Consulting Pty Ltd ACN 604 439 698
E: terry@steamconsulting.com.au
W: http://www.steamconsulting.com.au
A: PO BOX 779
Endeavour Hills
VIC Australia 3802

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