It’s that time of year again when the temperature starts dropping, as we move out of the holidays and into the Flu season. The Flu comes every year and it’s extremely difficult to determine the intensity or the length that it will endure. This year in particular we have already seen a horrible start with the death of 21 children already. This is why we must take more proactive procedures to shorten the duration of the season as much as possible. The following steps can guide you in the prevention of more deaths and illness this Flu Season.
1. Cover Your Mouth and Post Hand Washing Signs.
The Flu is transferred mainly through direct transmission. One way to help prevent the spread is to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
Another way of prevention is to wash your hands before and after you shake or touch someone else’s hand. Of course, if you aren’t washing your hands properly,this won’t help the situation at all. The easy solution to this is posting hand washing signs around your facility and in the bathrooms, which will help people understand the proper way to wash their hands so they don’t spread bacteria and viruses.
The proper procedure according to the CDC is washing your hands approximately 15 to 20 seconds, which is equal to singing “Happy Birthday” twice. This may seem like a long time, but it will help stop the spread of the Flu and your own chances of getting it.
2. Wiping Down and Sanitizing Hard Surfaces.
Make sure to disinfect the surfaces around your facility or home that have the most contact with people to help prevent the survival of this virus. These include the following:
Doorknobs
Handrails
Elevator Buttons
Tables
Counters
Chairs
Toys
Etc.
3. Getting the Annual Flu Vaccine.
Every year a new Flu Vaccine is developed to help combat the spread of this virus. This vaccination is an injection with a small diluted dose of the virus. This causes your body to produce antibodies which fight off the sickness. After these antibodies are created, your body will then be able to prevent the virus from reinfecting your body.
These three steps will help us get through the remainder of this flu season with minimal outbreaks.
The New Year of 2015 is coming, and the Millennials, people born between 1980 and the early 2000’s, are starting to become the main consumers, which is exponentially moving businesses into the era of Social Media. The era where one mistake can mean the loss of hundreds of customers for your business. The era that has created the fastest form of word of mouth marketing to date, and its through the many forms of social media that are available in today’s age such as “Yelp”, “Twitter” and “Facebook”.
This means that we as businesses have to be on our top notch game at all times to not fall into these potential losses. According to Keep Your Customers’ Online Reputations Clean by Dave Mesko there are a few main areas of your business that you can make or break a customer from posting good or bad feed back about your company.
Floors and Walk Ways:
One of the top things that needs to be done, is making sure the floors are clean and don’t have stains or messes. The main places this comes into effect is high traffic areas such as restaurants, where you have hundreds of people coming in and out of your facility with minimal time to clean between arrivals. These places have to be quick on their feet and can’t afford to leave slippery floors. This means that traditional moping may not be the best option for these companies. The alternative to this would be NexGen Bucket-less microfiber moping, which will keep the excess water and chemical off of the floor. NexGen Bucket-less Microfiber mops are also much better at picking up the spill. As compared to the dirt dilution system, that we find with traditional mopping.
Bathrooms:
The next place and by far the most important place to have looking nice is the restrooms According to a recent survey by Harris Interactive for SCA Tissue North America 50% of people who go to restaurants would speak negatively about the restaurant if they encounter a dirty restroom. As well, 3 in every 10 customers surveyed said they would never return to that restaurant, which can be extremely costly to your business. The solution isn’t just a matter of having clean floors and counters, but as well the restroom fixtures need to be clean and there needs to be toilet paper and paper towels readily available in all stalls and at all counters.
The most effective way to keep these problems from happening is have scheduled cleaning times and Jumbo toilet tissue dispensers. This will allow more time in between changes without the fear of running out and ensure that the restrooms get adequate cleaning through out the entire day. The next step is to have scheduled deep cleaning sessions to remove any odors and soil that may not be removed by an ordinary mop.
Avoiding cross contamination:
Employees need to be trained on the process of cleaning a facility, and not wiping down a toilet and then a counter or a table with the same cloth. The following link to “Training can Help Prevent Cross-Contamination” has more information about the best steps for preventing this from happening.
No matter what business you are in you will need customers to survive, and if you don’t keep your facility clean customers will spread negative thoughts about your company faster than ever. So, whether you’re using in house or contracted cleaning, appropriate equipment and training on the proper procedures for cleaning through out your custodial staff is necessary to keep your facility and social media clean of these problems.
Using a microfiber cloth compared to a cotton cloth doesn’t mean that all of the bacteria and soil will be removed from a surface. While they are much more effective then cotton cloths as I have explained in “Reasons to Change to Microfiber Mops“. You still cant use them for an entire facility without changing them like any other cloth.
If The cloths are not changed then you could potentially be trying to clean with a dirty cloth. Which is not only ineffective at picking up soil and bacteria, but can actually spread it from one area of a facility to another. A good example of this is if you clean a bathroom with a dirty cloth, and then proceed to clean a preparation table within the same restaurant you will be bringing the excess soil and bacteria from the bathroom and leaving it on the prep table.
This shows the importance of getting your custodians the proper training for the use of cleaning cloths. As Guspiel says “We want them to know that they play a role in reducing infections, and that’s a big deal to the hospital as a whole.” Even though Guspiel works for a hospital these principles can be applied to all types of facilities not just hospitals.
SSS-Yellow Microfiber Cloth with proper folding
The first step of training is to know how to get the most cleaning out of your cloths, which can be down by folding the cloth in half and in half again to acquire 8 sides of fresh, uncontaminated cleaning. A cloth can than be used to clean a full room before it should be discarded into the soiled bucket and a new cloth be used in the next room.
Another helpful tip is color coding your microfiber cloths to help with the prevention of using cloths that are prepared for any specific area of a facility with any other sections of the facility. This could be as simple as using a yellow Cloth within your bathrooms, a blue cloth in your cafeteria areas and in your offices using a green cloth. This will not only help in preventing the spread of bacteria and soil from these different areas, but also to prevent the use of the wrong chemical in each of your different departments within your facility.
When it comes to the prevention of the spread of diseases the custodians are the first line and last line of defense. With 80 percent of infections being caused through direct contact there won’t be anything stopping these bacteria if the custodians aren’t equipped with the right tools. This doesn’t mean having to buy thousands of dollars worth of heavy duty equipment for your facility, but instead just to make sure not to cut corners on the cheaper things that you need to clean and disinfect your facility.
So do you want to be in a facility were the bacteria and soil is being spread around by cotton cloths or to ensure that the soil and bacteria is getting picked up through the use of Microfiber Cloths?
When cleaning with traditional cotton rags in most situations you will be picking up a good majority of bacteria, but this is only half the battle when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting. The true challenge is not to just remove the bacteria from a surface, but the soils from the surface as well to give the disinfecting chemicals a fighting chance according to Darrel Hicks, author of Infection Prevention for Dummies. Cotton rags while cheap and readily available, are not particularly good at picking up these soils off of surfaces which is one of the problems of using cotton rags.
Microfiber cloths on the other hand work by gently scrapping against the surface to help pull the soil and bacteria off of the surface. They then use their engineered pockets within their fabric to collect and trap the soil until the cloths are washed to prevent from spreading it across the surface. Making them extremely effective in preparing a surface to be disinfected.
Another problem that cotton cloths have is when you are using quat-based disinfectants. The cloths can have a strong attraction with the active ingredients in these quat disinfectants, which causes the cloths to spread the soil and bacteria rather than picking it up off the surface.
At The University of Minnesota Medical Center they tested the efficiency of both cloth and microfiber cloths, which led their decision to switch to microfiber.
The University found that Microfiber cloths will pick up spores and microorganisms even if you don’t use disinfectants were as cotton will just spread them across the surface. As well according to Amanda Guspiel, environmental infection preventionist since using these microfiber cloths they have not had any issues with quat binding that can occur with cotton rags.
Through changing to microfiber Guspiel has had a decrease in the number of Hospital acquired infections.
Cleaning equipment have been revolutionizing the contract cleaning industries, by making it much easier to get restrooms to a higher level of clean than traditional methods of cleaning.
The equipment uses water pressure to clean restroom floors and surfaces, allowing the operator to get into a room’s nooks and crannies. Once finished, the machine retracts the dirty water with a vacuum.
Cleaning with chemicals can create negative thoughts with your clients that you are just hiding the dirt not cleaning it. Cleaning equipment allows you to move away from these thoughts by not requiring chemicals like old systems did, such as mop and bucket cleaning.
When moping any germs that don’t stick to the mop are going to stay in the grout and on the tile. Cleaning equipment prevents this by spraying the area with high pressure water and then imminently sucking it up into the attached vacuum.
Using Machine cleaning eliminates worrying about needing to wash the mops after every job or your employees neglecting to laundry the mops and proceeding to spread the germs it picked up in the previous job back onto the floors.
Maintenance crews using dirty mops displays a negative image to any clients and other faculty that they don’t care about their cleaning equipment.
“It’s not professional and it shows you are not at the top of your game,” Bard from JANCOA says.
There are many benefits to using Cleaning equipment, for one it allows you to know that germs aren’t being left behind from using a dirty mop. Another is when you are cleaning the floor your using little to no chemical. This not only removes the idea that you are just covering up the bacteria, but that you are be environmentally friendly while preforming your cleaning too.
Knowing that you want to change from traditional ways of cleaning to Cleaning machines is only half the battle. After making this decision you have to know how big of a cleaning machine you need for the facility.
A machine that is to large will be difficult maneuver and get in the small nooks and crannies of the bathroom, While one that is to small can take excessive amounts of time to clean larger bathrooms.
Cleaning potential shouldn’t be the only concern as well as were will this machine be stored and do you have the room for a huge cleaning machine? Other questions should also arise, like how big is your budget for cleaning, and if you have the budget to train an employee on using an expensive cleaning machine?
These are questions that companies such as Gem Supply can help you solve, with onsite training and professionals that can help determine the size of machine you will need for your facility.
While Ebola is a highly infectious, enveloped virus, it is believed to be susceptible to a broad range of hospital disinfectants.
Within the CDC’s article “Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus,” there are currently no products that have a “specific label claims against the Ebola virus.” The CDC continues to to emphasis that a chosen product to combat The Ebola Virus should have a “Kill Claim” of less then 5 minutes. The reason for this recommendation is a fairly simple one of surfaces don’t stay wet long enough to disinfect when using more common disinfectants. Triple S offers multiple products with a “non-enveloped Virus” Claim, but only one has a claim time of under 5 minutes and that is Perisept, which has a claim of 2 minutes.
This is not to say there aren’t other products that we supply that have the same ability to satisfy the clams of the CDC and have a Dwell time of less then 5 minutes. But many of these other products are bleach based, which brings forward many acknowledged problems. Some of these are they don’t clean, leaves residue, requires rinsing, is corrosive, damages fabrics and the list just continues.
Further, of all the products with a claim of less than 5 minutes, virtually none of them carry a claim for C-diff! Perisept is an excellent choice for healthcare facilities because it carries all the claims recommended by the CDC for both Ebola and C-Diff, and has a very short dwell-time requirement.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website
1. How can I determine whether a particular EPA-registered hospital disinfectant is appropriate for use in the room of a patient with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection?
Begin by looking at the product label or product insert or, if these are not available, search the EPA search engine for this information. Users should be aware that an ‘enveloped’ or ‘non-enveloped virus’ designation may not be included on the container label. Instead check the disinfectant’s label for at least one of the common non-enveloped viruses (e.g., norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, poliovirus).
2. Are there special instructions for cleaning and disinfecting the room of a patient with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus infection?
Daily cleaning and disinfection of hard, non-porous surfaces (e.g., high-touch surfaces such as bed rails and over bed tables, housekeeping surfaces such as floors and counters) should be done. Before disinfecting a surface, cleaning should be performed. In contrast to disinfection where products with specific claims are used, any cleaning product can be used for cleaning tasks. Use cleaning and disinfecting products according to label instructions. Check the disinfectant’s label for specific instructions for inactivation of any of the non-enveloped viruses (e.g., norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, poliovirus) follow label instructions for use of the product that are specific for inactivation of that virus. Use disposable cleaning cloths, mop cloths, and wipes and dispose of these in leak-proof bags. Use a rigid waste receptacle designed to support the bag to help minimize contamination of the bag’s exterior.
3. How should spills of blood or other body substances be managed?
The basic principles for blood or body substance spill management are outlined in the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogen Standards (29 CFR 1910.1030). CDC guidelines recommend removal of bulk spill matter, cleaning the site, and then disinfecting the site.For large spills, a chemical disinfectant with sufficient potency is needed to overcome the tendency of proteins in blood and other body substances to neutralize the disinfectant’s active ingredient. An EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with label claims for non-enveloped viruses (e.g., norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, poliovirus) and instructions for cleaning and decontaminating surfaces or objects soiled with blood or body fluids should be used according to those instructions.
4. How should disposable materials (e.g., any single-use PPE, cleaning cloths, wipes, single-use microfiber cloths, linens, food service) and linens, privacy curtains, and other textiles be managed after their use in the patient room?
These materials should be placed in leak-proof containment and discarded appropriately. To minimize contamination of the exterior of the waste bag, place this bag in a rigid waste receptacle designed for this use. Incineration or autoclaving as a waste treatment process is effective in eliminating viral infectivity and provides waste minimization. If disposal requires transport offsite then this should be done in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR, 49 C.F.R., Parts 171-180).Guidance from DOT has been released for Ebola.
5. Is it safe for Ebola patients to use the bathroom?
Yes. Sanitary sewers may be used for the safe disposal of patient waste. Additionally, sewage handling processes (e.g., anaerobic digestion, composting, and disinfection) in the United States are designed to inactivate infectious agents.
6. How long does the Ebola virus persist in indoor environments?
Only one laboratory study, which was done under environmental conditions that favor virus persistence, has been reported. This study found that under these ideal conditions Ebola virus could remain active for up to six days. In a follow up study, Ebolavirus was found, relative to other enveloped viruses, to be quite sensitive to inactivation by ultraviolet light and drying; yet sub-populations did persist in organic debris.
In the only study to assess contamination of the patient care environment during an outbreak, conducted in an African hospital under “real world conditions”, virus was not detected by either nucleic acid amplification or culture in any of 33 samples collected from sites that were not visibly bloody. Virus was detected on a blood-stained glove and bloody intravenous insertion site by nucleic acid amplification, which may detect non-viable virus, but not by culture for live, infectious virus. Based upon these data and what is known regarding the environmental infection control of other enveloped RNA viruses, the expectation is with consistent daily cleaning and disinfection practices in U.S. hospitals that the persistence of Ebola virus in the patient care environment would be short – with 24 hours considered a cautious upper limit.
For more info, Please contact Jason Soler at Jsoler@gemsupply.net
Ten states have contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for help investigating clusters of a respiratory virus that is being blamed for sending hundreds of children to area hospitals. The bug appears to be Enterovirus (EV) D68.
According to CNN reports, here’s what you need to know about the virus:
What are enteroviruses?
Enteroviruses, which bring on symptoms like a very intense cold, aren’t unusual. They’re actually very common. There are more than 100 types of enteroviruses causing about 10 to 15 million infections in the United States each year, according to the CDC. They are carried in the intestinal tract and often spread to other parts of the body.
The season often hits its peak in September, as summer ends and fall begins.
So why all the concern now?
What’s unusual at the moment is the high number of hospitalizations. The virus has sent more than 30 children a day to a Kansas City, Missouri, hospital, where about 15 percent of the youngsters were placed in intensive care, officials said.
What’s special about this particular type of enterovirus?
An analysis by the CDC showed at least 30 of the Kansas City children tested positive for EV-D68, Missouri health officials said.
It’s a type of enterovirus that’s uncommon, but not new. It was first identified in the 1960s and there have been fewer than 100 reported cases since that time.
Experts say they don’t know why it’s flared up this time around.
What are the symptoms?
The virus can start as just a cold. Signs include coughing, difficulty breathing and in some cases a rash. Sometimes they can be accompanied by fever or wheezing. Respiratory problems appear to the hallmark of EV-D68, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
What can be done to prevent it?
Like other enteroviruses, the respiratory illness appears to spread through close contact with infected people. That makes children more susceptible.
• Encourage hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds — particularly after using the restroom or changing diapers.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are regularly touched by different people.
• Avoid shaking hands, kissing, hugging and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you feel unwell.
There’s no vaccine for EV-D68.
Contact Bob Zagers at BZagers@GemSupply.net to arrange onsite training for your staff on Combating Enterovirus D68.
Summer travel can mean high guest turnover for hotels and other hospitality settings. However, more guests should not equal less frequent cleanings.
Below Clorox offers a few quick tips housekeeping professionals can incorporate into their cleaning process in between deep room cleanings.
Target High-Touch Room Surfaces. Objects and surfaces that are frequently touched by hotel guests such as doorknobs, light switches, nightstands, phones, remotes and bathroom countertops need to be disinfected at least once a day. Germs like influenza can survive on surfaces for hours, and norovirus, a source of acute gastroenteritis, can survive for weeks at a time, providing ample opportunity for the spread of infection between guests and staff, so it is important to use products that are EPA-registered to kill germs of most concern.
Ready-to-use disinfecting wipes are a great and easy-to-use solution, especially those that are EPA-registered to kill influenza and norovirus on a wide variety of surfaces.
Don’t Neglect Soft Surfaces. Hotels change the sheets and linens after each guest, but other guestroom soft surfaces such as curtains, bedspreads, upholstered furniture and pillows may only get a good washing on a quarterly basis. In between deep cleanings and launderings, quickly refresh and sanitize these items before each new guest with a one-step, multiuse product.
In the bathroom, odors can persist on porous, damp surfaces such as grout, which trap the bacteria sources that feed on urine. Humid conditions or wetting the surface can also reactivate the odor. Look for ready-to-use hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners, which are a better choice for removing stains and breaking down odor-causing uric acid crystals. Ready-to-use formulas are also quicker and easier to use because there is no need for dilution.
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