Specialised Cleaning for Medical & Clinical Facilities

Disinfectant contact time refers to the duration a disinfectant must remain in contact with a surface to effectively eliminate harmful micro-organisms. It’s crucial that the surface remains wet for the specified time. In healthcare settings, staff should be aware of the contact times for the disinfectants they use and it’s important to choose products with contact times that are practical for busy environments.

A manual cleaning action involves a methodical approach, particularly for large and flat surfaces. It entails using an ‘S’ shape motion, commencing from the farthest point and slightly overlapping to ensure thorough coverage. Avoiding retracing steps is crucial to prevent recontamination of cleaned areas, ensuring effective cleaning results.

Cleaning according to the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness involves a combination of ‘fluid’ (typically detergent and water) and ‘friction’ to mechanically remove organic matter like dirt, debris, blood and bodily fluids. The goal is to eliminate micro-organisms rather than merely killing them. In ‘low risk’ areas like foyers and offices, visible cleanliness may suffice. However, healthcare environments often require disinfection as well. Cleaning is a prerequisite for effective disinfection, as organic matter can deactivate certain disinfectants.

Disinfection, according to the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness, is the process of eradicating or diminishing harmful micro-organisms from inanimate objects and surfaces. Sterilisation, on the other hand, pertains to the complete elimination of all micro-organisms, mainly reserved for critical items that contact sterile tissues or the bloodstream. Decontamination processes encompass cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation. In non-critical environments or with non-critical equipment, it generally refers to a two-step process involving separate cleaning and disinfecting agents or a ‘2 in 1’ product for simultaneous cleaning and disinfection.