Always clean and wash surfaces/areas thoroughly before disinfecting them
. Use disinfecting products or diluted bleaches (i.e.,. sodium hypochlorite) to disinfect areas as required. After using cleaning products, Wash hands thoroughly with water and soap, after removing gloves.
Experts agree that careful cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces are essential elements of effective infection prevention programs.
However, traditional manual cleaning and disinfection practices in hospitals are often suboptimal.
This is often due in part to a variety of personnel issues that many Environmental Services departments encounter.
Failure to follow manufacturer’s recommendations for disinfectant use and lack of antimicrobial activity of some disinfectants against healthcare-associated pathogens may also affect the efficacy of disinfection practices.