Environmental Cleanliness Quiz

The best statement to describe the Standard Precautions for Environmental cleaning is to wear appropriate PPE; infectious waste should be segregated from non-infectious waste. Color-coded or labeled bags should be used to facilitate the separation of various wastes. This means that personal protective equipment should be worn to protect against potential infections, and different types of waste should be properly separated to prevent cross-contamination.

The correct answer is to inform the BMO that the patient should be held in ED isolation because terminal cleaning is still underway. Taking another patient without completing terminal cleaning is not safe and could potentially spread the infection. Additionally, the housekeeping staff should be instructed to perform terminal cleaning using soap and water instead of sodium hypochlorite, and to remove curtains before starting the cleaning process. This is important to ensure thorough disinfection and prevent further transmission of the infection.

This statement is true because low touch surfaces, such as floors and ceilings, are not frequently touched by healthcare workers and patients. These surfaces are not commonly handled or used for direct contact, unlike high touch surfaces like doorknobs or countertops. Therefore, the risk of spreading germs or infections through low touch surfaces is relatively low.

A clean patient environment contributes to the reduction in environmental contamination, including the removal of microorganisms. This helps in preventing healthcare-associated infections. By maintaining cleanliness in the patient environment, the risk of infection transmission is minimized, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for patients.

The correct method for environmental cleaning is to clean the area by proceeding from cleaner to dirtier. This means that you should start cleaning with the cleaner areas and gradually move towards the dirtier areas. This approach helps to prevent the spread of dirt, germs, and contaminants from the dirtier areas to the cleaner ones. It ensures a more effective and thorough cleaning process, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and maintaining a clean and hygienic environment.

Terminal cleaning is a process that is necessary to ensure that an area has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after the discharge or transfer of a patient, whether they are infected or not. This process is crucial in order to create a safe environment for the next patient. It involves cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces, particularly in patient care areas that are frequently touched by healthcare workers and patients.

High touch surfaces refer to surfaces that are frequently touched by healthcare workers, attendants, and patients. These surfaces include doorknobs, bed frames, tray tables, bedside tables, call bells, phones, bed/table surfaces, bed rails, keyboards, control panels, and sink handles. These surfaces are more likely to harbor germs and bacteria due to frequent contact, making them important targets for cleaning and disinfection in healthcare settings.

The explanation for the given answer is that using a soapy solution for cleaning in patient care areas is more effective than disinfecting with sodium hypochlorite. Soap is able to remove dirt, grime, and some germs from surfaces, while sodium hypochlorite is a disinfectant that kills a broader range of germs. However, using sodium hypochlorite alone may not effectively remove dirt and grime, which can harbor bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is recommended to first clean surfaces with a soapy solution and then follow up with disinfection using sodium hypochlorite.

It is not okay to use soap and hypochlorite in the same bucket. Mixing soap and hypochlorite can result in a chemical reaction that reduces the effectiveness of the hypochlorite as a disinfectant. It is important to follow proper cleaning protocols and use separate buckets for different cleaning solutions to ensure proper disinfection and prevent any potential harm to patients or staff.

Routine cleaning is the correct answer because it refers to the regular cleaning and disinfection that is done when indicated and when the room is occupied. It aims to remove organic material, reduce microbial contamination, and provide a visually clean environment, with emphasis on surfaces within the patient zone. Routine cleaning is a standard practice in healthcare settings to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of infections.

Terminal cleaning in Emergency and Ambulatory care is mandatory. Terminal cleaning refers to the thorough cleaning and disinfection of a patient's room or area after they have been discharged or transferred. This process is crucial in preventing the spread of infections and maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients and staff. Therefore, it is not optional but mandatory in these healthcare settings.

When a patient is discharged from the hospital and has been on contact precautions, it is important to perform terminal cleaning of the infected patient's room. Terminal cleaning is a thorough and extensive cleaning process that is done after a patient with an infectious disease has left the room. This type of cleaning is necessary to remove any potential pathogens and prevent the spread of infection to other patients and healthcare workers. Routine cleaning, environmental cleaning, and intensive care cleaning may also be performed, but terminal cleaning specifically addresses the needs of an infected patient.

High touch surfaces are surfaces that are frequently touched by multiple people and are more likely to harbor germs and bacteria. The correct answer includes doorknobs, bed frames, bedside table and call bell, and sink handles. These surfaces are commonly touched and can easily spread germs if not properly cleaned and disinfected. Floor and ceiling are not considered high touch surfaces as they are not typically touched by multiple people on a regular basis.

Spray bottles should not be used to perform environmental disinfection because the spray does not evenly distribute on the surface, which makes them ineffective. This uneven distribution can lead to improper disinfection, leaving some areas untreated and increasing the risk of contamination. Additionally, spray bottles may cause more usage of disinfection solution as compared to other methods, and there is a possibility of housekeeping diluting it improperly. Therefore, all of the above reasons contribute to why spray bottles should not be used for environmental disinfection.

During terminal cleaning of infected/non-infected patients housed on a corner bed, it is recommended to use four dusters. This is because corner beds are typically harder to access and clean thoroughly, so using multiple dusters ensures that all surfaces are properly cleaned and disinfected. Using only one or two dusters may result in inadequate cleaning of certain areas, increasing the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of infections. Therefore, using four dusters is the most effective approach for terminal cleaning in this scenario.

Housekeeping must take a concentration of 1:3 of sodium hypochlorite solution for cleaning blood spillage or an infected patient's room. This means that for every 1 part of sodium hypochlorite, there should be 3 parts of water. This concentration is effective in disinfecting and killing bacteria and viruses present in the environment, reducing the risk of infection transmission.

A concentration of sodium hypochlorite solution with a ratio of 1:39 is used for environmental cleaning/non-infected patients. This means that for every part of sodium hypochlorite, there are 39 parts of water. This dilution is effective in disinfecting surfaces and reducing the risk of infection in non-infected patients.

Low touch surfaces are surfaces that are not frequently touched by multiple people. These surfaces require minimal contact and are less likely to spread germs or pathogens. In this case, floors, ceilings, and fans are considered low touch surfaces as they are not commonly touched by individuals. On the other hand, doorknobs and sink handles are high touch surfaces as they are frequently touched by multiple people and can easily transfer germs.

The housekeeping trolley should be well equipped with various items to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. These items include soapy solution for cleaning, a disinfectant solution like sodium hypochlorite, red and green plastic bag/liners for waste disposal, clean dusters for dusting surfaces, two small buckets for carrying water or cleaning solutions, wet and dry mops for different types of cleaning, toilet tissue rolls and Harpic for maintaining cleanliness in the toilet, and a clean dustpan and dust pan brush for collecting dirt and debris. These items cover a range of cleaning tasks and help maintain a clean and sanitary environment.