6. Clean Environment Flashcards
What bacteria can survive in a dry environment?
S. aureus, C. diff, acinetobactor
What are the preferred methods of cleaning?
Damp dusting and vacuuming.
Dry dusting should be avoided as it disperses dust into the air.
What is the colour coded NHS cleaning system?
Red - bathrooms, showers, toilets, basins
Blue - general areas including wards, department offices & basins in public places
Green - catering depts, ward kitchen areas and patient food service at ward levels
Yellow - isolation areas
When should you clean?
On a routine basis
When surfaces are visibly dirty
Immediately when spillages occur
In between patients
How should you clean a blood/body fluid spillage?
Clean immediately wearing PPE - apron & gloves.
Contain spillage using disposable paper towels.
Use disinfectant if indicated.
10000ppm chlorine releasing agents should be used along with water and general purpose detergents.
Perform hand hygiene after cleaning.
When should chlorine releasing agents not be used?
Urine spillages as this will give off toxic fumes
What is disinfection?
Eliminating pathogenic microorganisms
What is sterilisation?
Destroying all forms of microbial life
What is minimal risk?
Items some distance away from the patient e.g. walls
Items close to the patient but unlikely to be contaminated e.g. work surface.
Should be cleaned.
What is low risk?
Items in contact with normal intact skin e.g. dental chair
Should be cleaned
What is intermediate risk?
Items in contact with mucous membranes e.g. tooth shade guides
Should be disinfected or sterilised
What is high risk?
Items in close contact with a break in the skin or mucous membranes
Items introduced into a normally sterile body site e.g. extraction forceps.
Should be sterilised.
What is cleaning?
Removing visible dirt & dust.
Reduces number of microorganisms present.
A clean dry environment is hostile to bacteria.
What are two examples of chlorine releasing agents?
Sodium hypochlorite & sodium dichloro-iso-cyanurate
How long should chlorine releasing agents be left on a spillage?
5 minutes
