It's unfathomable that 2013 is almost at a close. In writing this, our last and 52nd blog of
the year Lee and I wanted to review the year and share what we and others think
the Top 10 Talk Clean To Me blogs were.
In writing the blog, I'm undecided if you should keep David Letterman's
Top 10 in mind (Lee's pick) or because I'm singing along to Christmas Carols if
perhaps the 12 Days of Christmas or The Sound of Music's "These are a few
of my favorite things" should be the theme song to hum while you read (obviously
I vote for humming!). I'll leave the
decision to you and hope you agree with our Top 10 picks.
10. Burnt Bums Call for Ban on Disinfectants:
Disinfectant residue determined to be the cause for chemical burns on a child's
bottom. Perhaps rather than calling for
a ban on the use of disinfectants and sanitizing agents in schools
perhaps the better alternative is to lobby for the use of disinfectants and
sanitizing agents that do not leave harmful residues behind. For example,
hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water an oxygen - that sounds pretty safe to
me!
Disinfectant residue determined to be the cause for chemical burns on a child's
bottom. Perhaps rather than calling for
a ban on the use of disinfectants and sanitizing agents in schools
perhaps the better alternative is to lobby for the use of disinfectants and
sanitizing agents that do not leave harmful residues behind. For example,
hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water an oxygen - that sounds pretty safe to
me!
9. It’s getting harder and harder to breathe!:Custodians
and cleaners have the highest incidence of work related asthma. What steps do you have in place to reduce the
potential exposure to harmful and potentially asthma causing chemicals? Does your product selection committee
consider safer cleaning and disinfectant options or employ practices and
protocols that will reduce a user’s chance of triggering occupational asthma?
and cleaners have the highest incidence of work related asthma. What steps do you have in place to reduce the
potential exposure to harmful and potentially asthma causing chemicals? Does your product selection committee
consider safer cleaning and disinfectant options or employ practices and
protocols that will reduce a user’s chance of triggering occupational asthma?
8. ATTENTION LADIES! There is scientific proof of why men should put the toilet seat down!:
Lidless conventional toilets may increase the risk of C. difficile
environmental contamination. Should public toilets have lids? Certainly, they may help reduce potential
spread of "stuff" being flushed, but will very likely become
contaminated themselves upon flushing. Do you want to lift the lid
knowing someone's "stuff" is on it?
Lidless conventional toilets may increase the risk of C. difficile
environmental contamination. Should public toilets have lids? Certainly, they may help reduce potential
spread of "stuff" being flushed, but will very likely become
contaminated themselves upon flushing. Do you want to lift the lid
knowing someone's "stuff" is on it?
7. Safe, Safer, Safely, Safest – Who knew they were “Bathroom” words!: Safe, Safely, Safer,
Safest, Green, Non-Toxic, Harmless... are wonderfully simple yet descriptive
words that clearly impart in plain English a meaning that the general
population can understand, however, when it comes to adjectives used to
describe EPA registered disinfectants they are banned, they are taboo, they are
to be avoided at all costs and if used....there can be hefty
repercussions.
Safest, Green, Non-Toxic, Harmless... are wonderfully simple yet descriptive
words that clearly impart in plain English a meaning that the general
population can understand, however, when it comes to adjectives used to
describe EPA registered disinfectants they are banned, they are taboo, they are
to be avoided at all costs and if used....there can be hefty
repercussions.
6. ATTENTION PLEASE!! ATP CANNOT be used to compare different disinfectant chemistries!: If
you're looking to change cleaning and disinfecting products and are looking at
the use of ATP to determine which product works better I hope you'll think
twice! ATP CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT
be used to compare cleaning or disinfection effectiveness between difference
chemistries.
you're looking to change cleaning and disinfecting products and are looking at
the use of ATP to determine which product works better I hope you'll think
twice! ATP CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT
be used to compare cleaning or disinfection effectiveness between difference
chemistries.
5. ESKAPE Stops Here!:
When it comes to disinfection, antibiotic resistant bacteria should be
no more of a challenge to kill with hospital grade disinfectant than the
non-resistant strains. Ultimately, ESKAPE pathogens can have a major impact on
the treatment options available to healthcare professionals, but in the world
of cleaning and disinfection - it’s just another day at the office.
When it comes to disinfection, antibiotic resistant bacteria should be
no more of a challenge to kill with hospital grade disinfectant than the
non-resistant strains. Ultimately, ESKAPE pathogens can have a major impact on
the treatment options available to healthcare professionals, but in the world
of cleaning and disinfection - it’s just another day at the office.
4. Viruses - They cause more infections than you think!:
Did you know that some of the most commonly transmitted viruses are not
killed by the disinfectant you may be using on a day to day basis? Is your infection control program prevention
or intervention based? Infection
PREVENTION measures such as changing of disinfectant solutions or increased
cleaning and disinfection during winter months can certainly be implemented
with relative ease and will contribute to fewer infections. The alternative of course is having to
implement INTERVENTION measures to help combat a viral outbreak!
Did you know that some of the most commonly transmitted viruses are not
killed by the disinfectant you may be using on a day to day basis? Is your infection control program prevention
or intervention based? Infection
PREVENTION measures such as changing of disinfectant solutions or increased
cleaning and disinfection during winter months can certainly be implemented
with relative ease and will contribute to fewer infections. The alternative of course is having to
implement INTERVENTION measures to help combat a viral outbreak!
3. iPads, iPhones and Blackberries….oh My!: Electronic devices such as smart phones,
tablets and portable computers have become increasingly important tools for the
delivery of healthcare services and certainly pose a very serious risk
of becoming contaminated and acting as a source for the transmission of
microorganisms. How then do we develop
and infection prevention program for
devices that were not developed with healthcare use in mind?
tablets and portable computers have become increasingly important tools for the
delivery of healthcare services and certainly pose a very serious risk
of becoming contaminated and acting as a source for the transmission of
microorganisms. How then do we develop
and infection prevention program for
devices that were not developed with healthcare use in mind?
2. The Ugly Truth – 24/7, 365 = the optimal time for bacterial growth: The ugly truth is
despite our best efforts hospital associated infections (HAIs) continue to
occur. A research team showed that within 6.5 hrs after cleaning/disinfecting,
the bacterial burden found on bedrails had rebounded back by 30% – 40%! Housekeeping budgets are largely comprised
of man hours, cutting back on housekeeping are perhaps not the best way to save
a facility money. Is anyone brave enough
to go ask for more money in order to hire more cleaning staff and increase the
frequency of cleaning?
despite our best efforts hospital associated infections (HAIs) continue to
occur. A research team showed that within 6.5 hrs after cleaning/disinfecting,
the bacterial burden found on bedrails had rebounded back by 30% – 40%! Housekeeping budgets are largely comprised
of man hours, cutting back on housekeeping are perhaps not the best way to save
a facility money. Is anyone brave enough
to go ask for more money in order to hire more cleaning staff and increase the
frequency of cleaning?
1. Cotton – it absorbs more than just water: Did you know
Quats and cotton do not mix? Perhaps
your current VRE or MRSA outbreak is not due to poor cleaning, but due to the
fact that while the name of the product may contain the word "Disinfectant"
the cleaning process you are using may counteract and inhibit the ability for
disinfection to actually occur.
Quats and cotton do not mix? Perhaps
your current VRE or MRSA outbreak is not due to poor cleaning, but due to the
fact that while the name of the product may contain the word "Disinfectant"
the cleaning process you are using may counteract and inhibit the ability for
disinfection to actually occur.
We hope you agree with our Top 10 picks (and if you
haven't read them, we hope you'll take the time to read them now!) Thank you from both Lee and I for your
continued support of the Talk Clean To Me blog!
We hope 2014 is full of health and happiness for all!
haven't read them, we hope you'll take the time to read them now!) Thank you from both Lee and I for your
continued support of the Talk Clean To Me blog!
We hope 2014 is full of health and happiness for all!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
