Chicago Area & Suburbs 
Healthcare facilities like hospitals demand an exceptionally high level of cleanliness to prevent infections and ensure patient safety. Maintaining a sterile environment is critical to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which can be fatal and significantly impact healthcare quality. To effectively sanitize and disinfect hospital spaces, several key areas need special attention. In this blog, we’ll cover those areas in detail and offer insights on achieving optimal cleanliness in healthcare settings.
1. Patient Rooms and Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
Patient rooms and ICUs are at the heart of hospital care. These spaces house vulnerable individuals who are often immunocompromised, making them more susceptible to infections. As a result, these rooms require meticulous cleaning protocols.
Focus Areas for Patient Rooms and ICUs:
High-touch surfaces: Items such as bed rails, bedside tables, call buttons, IV stands, and light switches must be cleaned and disinfected multiple times daily to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Floors and walls: While floors and walls may not be high-touch surfaces, pathogens can still accumulate on them. Regular mopping with hospital-grade disinfectants is essential.
Bathroom fixtures: Sinks, toilets, and other bathroom fixtures must be cleaned with extra care since these areas are often breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses.
Ventilation systems: Proper airflow is critical in hospital settings to prevent the spread of airborne infections. In ICUs, keeping HVAC systems clean and well-maintained is a priority.
2. Operating Rooms
Operating rooms (ORs) are sterile environments where even the smallest contamination can have life-threatening consequences. It is paramount to keep these rooms sterile before, during, and after surgeries.
Key Sanitation Practices for ORs:
Pre-surgery cleaning: Before any surgical procedure, the OR must be thoroughly cleaned. All equipment, surgical instruments, and surfaces should be disinfected.
Post-surgery disinfection: After each surgery, the room should be cleaned to remove biological contaminants and sterilized to ensure it’s ready for the next procedure.
Sterilization of surgical tools: All instruments used in surgeries must be properly sterilized using autoclaves or other approved sterilization methods.
Air purification: HEPA filters and UV disinfection systems should be used to maintain clean, infection-free air in ORs.
3. Emergency Rooms (ERs)
The ER is a high-traffic area where patients with various illnesses, injuries, and infections are treated. This high level of activity makes effective disinfection essential to avoid cross-contamination.
Key Areas for Focus in the ER:
Waiting areas and reception: High-touch areas such as chairs, counters, and door handles should be disinfected frequently. Patients and their families often spend hours in the waiting areas, making them prone to infection.
Treatment bays: ER treatment bays must be cleaned thoroughly after each patient leaves. This includes all medical equipment, stretchers, and floors.
Shared equipment: Equipment such as blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and wheelchairs should be disinfected between each use to prevent the spread of pathogens.
4. Common Areas
Hospitals have many common areas, such as cafeterias, lobbies, and hallways, accessible to the public, staff, and patients. While these areas may seem less critical than patient rooms or ORs, they can harbor harmful pathogens if not properly cleaned.
Cleaning Focus for Common Areas:
Floor and carpets: Floors, especially in high-traffic areas, should be mopped or vacuumed regularly with appropriate disinfectants.
Elevators and staircases: Buttons, handrails, and doors should be frequently disinfected as they are high-touch points.
Public restrooms: These areas require constant attention to avoid bacterial build-up. Toilets, sinks, and other fixtures should be cleaned daily with hospital-grade disinfectants.
5. Medical Equipment and Devices
Medical devices such as monitors, ventilators, and infusion pumps are critical for patient care, but they can also harbor harmful microbes if not cleaned properly.
Key Cleaning Protocols for Medical Equipment:
Regular disinfection: Any medical equipment that comes into direct contact with patients should be disinfected after each use.
Deep cleaning schedules: A regular schedule should include devices used less frequently, such as diagnostic machines.
Compliance with manufacturer guidelines: Medical devices often have specific cleaning instructions. Adhering to these guidelines ensures proper disinfection without damaging sensitive equipment.
6. Hand Hygiene Stations
Hand hygiene is one of the most important factors in preventing hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, hand hygiene stations such as sinks, soap dispensers, and hand sanitizers must be well-maintained and strategically placed.
Maintenance Tips for Hand Hygiene Stations:
Frequent checks: Soap and sanitizer dispensers should be checked regularly to ensure they are filled and functioning.
Visible signage: Signage encouraging hand washing for healthcare workers and visitors can help reduce the spread of germs.
Sanitizer placement: To encourage frequent use, hand sanitizers should be placed near entrances, exits, and other high-traffic areas.
7. Pharmacies and Laboratories
Pharmacies and laboratories are essential parts of hospitals, where precise sanitation is required to prevent contamination of medications and samples.
Sanitation Protocols for Pharmacies and Laboratories:
Work surfaces: All surfaces in these areas should be regularly disinfected to prevent cross-contamination.
Specialized cleaning agents: It is crucial to use specialized disinfectants that are safe for use in areas handling chemicals or biological samples.
Waste disposal: Proper disposal of biological waste and chemicals is critical to prevent contamination and comply with health regulations.
8. Staff Areas
Healthcare workers are on the frontline of patient care, and ensuring their clean areas is just as important as patient care areas.
Cleaning Focus in Staff Areas:
Break rooms and locker rooms: These areas should be cleaned regularly to reduce the spread of infections among staff.
Restrooms: Staff restrooms should be disinfected daily to ensure sanitary conditions.
Uniform policies: Hospitals should implement strict uniform protocols to ensure that employees wear clean scrubs and personal protective equipment (PPE) during their shifts.
9. Waste Management
Proper waste disposal is a critical component of hospital sanitization. Medical waste, such as used syringes, bandages, and surgical gloves, can spread infections if disposed of improperly.
Best Practices for Waste Management:
Waste segregation: Hospitals should segregate waste into categories such as biohazard, sharps, and general waste.
Disposal protocols: Special containers for biohazardous waste and sharps should be placed in every patient care area.
Proper training: Staff should be trained on how to handle and dispose of waste according to regulatory guidelines.
Why Choose Lake City Janitorial Inc. for Hospital Cleaning?
When it comes to hospital cleaning, you can’t afford to cut corners. Lake City Janitorial Inc. understands the importance of maintaining a sterile and safe environment in healthcare settings. Our team is equipped with the latest technology and follows CDC guidelines to ensure that all areas of your hospital are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
