I've always been lead to believe that mattresses are
soft, comfortable surfaces on which to lay my poor weary body. Sure there are those of you who like PaPa
Bear choose the stiff as a board mattress or like MaMa Bear who prefer the
super soft pillow top mattress, but I would hazard a guess that most of us are
like Goldilocks or Baby Bear and choose something in between. Regardless of our mattress preference I
believe I can say with certainty that you would never lump your mattress into
the same category as your countertops, toilets, sinks or tables when it comes
to cleaning. Why then do we do so in
hospitals?
soft, comfortable surfaces on which to lay my poor weary body. Sure there are those of you who like PaPa
Bear choose the stiff as a board mattress or like MaMa Bear who prefer the
super soft pillow top mattress, but I would hazard a guess that most of us are
like Goldilocks or Baby Bear and choose something in between. Regardless of our mattress preference I
believe I can say with certainty that you would never lump your mattress into
the same category as your countertops, toilets, sinks or tables when it comes
to cleaning. Why then do we do so in
hospitals?
I can hear the AH-HA's from here!!! Many of you are likely saying, why because
they are covered in a "plastic" material that is water resistant and
surely, a surface that is water resistant must be able to be cleaned and
disinfected like a hard surface such as a countertop. WRONG.
they are covered in a "plastic" material that is water resistant and
surely, a surface that is water resistant must be able to be cleaned and
disinfected like a hard surface such as a countertop. WRONG.
If you have not seen or read it, there was an abstract
presented at the APIC conference in San Antonio by researchers at Xavier
University that investigated the cleaning practices for hospital mattresses at
the top US adult hospitals. Using the US
News & World Report they contacted the top 113 hospitals by phone asking
the same 5 questions: What chemical do you clean your beds with? How do you mix or dilute the chemical? How long do you leave the chemical on the bed
or do you just let it dry on the bed? Do
you use anything other than the chemical first, like soap and water? Do you rinse off the cleaner after you clean
the bed?
presented at the APIC conference in San Antonio by researchers at Xavier
University that investigated the cleaning practices for hospital mattresses at
the top US adult hospitals. Using the US
News & World Report they contacted the top 113 hospitals by phone asking
the same 5 questions: What chemical do you clean your beds with? How do you mix or dilute the chemical? How long do you leave the chemical on the bed
or do you just let it dry on the bed? Do
you use anything other than the chemical first, like soap and water? Do you rinse off the cleaner after you clean
the bed?
Of the 113 hospitals, 69 agreed to answer the
questions. The chemicals used to clean
the mattresses included Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Bleach Compounds,
Phenolic Cleaners and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Only 2 of the hospitals were using products within the recommended pH. Only 16 were cleaning prior to disinfection
and only 6 were rinsing the disinfectant off after use.
questions. The chemicals used to clean
the mattresses included Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Bleach Compounds,
Phenolic Cleaners and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Only 2 of the hospitals were using products within the recommended pH. Only 16 were cleaning prior to disinfection
and only 6 were rinsing the disinfectant off after use.
This is where last week's blog comes into play. Read the label, interpret correctly,
understand and follow the label instructions found on your disinfectant AND the
cleaning and disinfection instructions of the mattress material
manufacturer. Disinfectants are intended
for use on hard, non-porous surfaces. In
fact, until May 31st of this year, the EPA did not have an approved product
performance test guideline that disinfectants could be tested for efficacy
against and make label claims of disinfection of soft surfaces such as
mattresses, fabrics or textiles.
Further, if you've taken the time to read the cleaning and disinfection
instructions from the manufacturers who make the mattress material found on
hospital beds you would have noted that they recommend cleaning the mattress
with soap and water, disinfecting the surface, and then rinsing.
understand and follow the label instructions found on your disinfectant AND the
cleaning and disinfection instructions of the mattress material
manufacturer. Disinfectants are intended
for use on hard, non-porous surfaces. In
fact, until May 31st of this year, the EPA did not have an approved product
performance test guideline that disinfectants could be tested for efficacy
against and make label claims of disinfection of soft surfaces such as
mattresses, fabrics or textiles.
Further, if you've taken the time to read the cleaning and disinfection
instructions from the manufacturers who make the mattress material found on
hospital beds you would have noted that they recommend cleaning the mattress
with soap and water, disinfecting the surface, and then rinsing.
My colleagues and I for years have recommended that
hospital mattresses be rinsed post disinfection. We weren't trying to create a make-work
project. We weren't trying to complicate
the cleaning and disinfection process for your housekeepers. We were in fact actually trying to follow and
comply with the instructions given by the mattress material manufactures to
ensure that the disinfectants being used were used correctly.
hospital mattresses be rinsed post disinfection. We weren't trying to create a make-work
project. We weren't trying to complicate
the cleaning and disinfection process for your housekeepers. We were in fact actually trying to follow and
comply with the instructions given by the mattress material manufactures to
ensure that the disinfectants being used were used correctly.
I hope you will take the time to review your cleaning and
disinfection practices, to read a few labels or cleaning and disinfection
instructions and make any necessary changes you need to!
disinfection practices, to read a few labels or cleaning and disinfection
instructions and make any necessary changes you need to!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
