Significant improvements in disinfection processes can be achieved without added fiscal commitment, through the use of evidence-based practices and properly trained and rewarded environmental services staff, according to an article on the CleanLink website.
In 2003, the CDC’s Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities-Environmental Surfaces recommended that hospitals clean and disinfect all high touch surfaces.
In 2007, the CMS issued an interpretative guideline for its infection prevention and control programs — they “must include appropriate monitoring of housekeeping activities to ensure that the hospital maintains a sanitary environment.”
The Association for the Healthcare Environment’s Practice Guidance for Healthcare Environmental Cleaning recommends that to ensure consistent quality of cleaning and adequate staffing resources for infection prevention, a total facility cleaning standard should be agreed upon in advance by environmental services, infection control, and operations or administrative management.
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