Future Healthcare has a wonderful article detailing on the correct way to clean Medical Equipment.
The article explains the reasons behind the “Spray-Wait-Wipe” method, and why its use is critical in the healthcare environment.
I don’t know who cleans equipment in your facility, but in the facilities I have been in, its usually someone from the Housekeeping Department. I have never seen them do any more then a quick spray, wipe and move on. After reading the article; it makes me wonder how clean those surfaces really are.
As Biomeds this issue should be key to us. We are often the ones whose hands are on and in the equipment. We have to know the equipment intimately. Its like that old line in Superman “Don’t worry I’ve got you…, But, who’s got you?”… Well, who is making sure we’re protected?
I know some facilities have policies that state that if equipment is contaminated it can be given to Central Sterile for cleaning, others have policies that state that only if equipment is grossly contaminated it can be given to Central Sterile. The problem I have run into was being told by CS that the equipment wasn’t grossly contaminated, or that they have no training on cleaning the particular device… so its my problem, not theirs.
The FDA issues a Public Health Notification last October regarding this issue. FDA PHN LINK
Who cleans equipment in your facility?
What do you do before you service or inspect equipment?
Did your policies change after the FDA Notification, and how so?
What procedures/practices are used when cleaning equipment?
The problem is they should not be spraing most medical equipment, this allows fluid to leak into the equipment or in the case of our Alaris Medley pumps can cause the connections to short together.