5 Top Tips for Infection Control

As the summer season gradually bids us farewell and autumn gently knocks on our door, it becomes imperative for us to remain extra cautious in the face of the inevitable onslaught of flu and colds.

In the face of an outbreak, it becomes imperative to swiftly gain control over its spread, regardless of the industry at hand, particularly as we all know staff absences are costly and customer contamination is always a?dangerous possibility. Therefore, understanding the mechanics behind the transmission of infections is crucial, as it revolves around six key factors: the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Fortunately, breaking any one of these links effectively halts the chain of transmission, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

Follow our five top tips for infection control and break the chain.

1. Plan (Don’t Panic)

In an emergency it can be tempting to grab the nearest products you can find and?begin frantically cleaning, but it’s more than?likely that you will make the situation a lot worse. Oversight on the infection control planning can lead to bacteria being spread into different areas of your organisation, or even help it to thrive.

Most businesses will have more than one?section?in their?building?that needs to be decontaminated, this could be because they have different functions (kitchen, office etc.) or in a larger building there will be different wings. Ensure that everyone involved knows where the cleaning?areas begin and end, and that they do not cross contaminate by using products and PPE in more than one area. For more on this see tip?No 4.

Many?organisations already use colour coding (for example only blue cleaning items being used in the?kitchen) but not all of them have a set colour for infection control items. As it is essential that the tools used in infection control are not mixed up with everyday cleaning items, set a separate colour and make sure you stick to it.

If you don’t already have an infection control plan in place, now may be the time to make one to avoid future panic and time wasting.

2. Cover All Bases

Spray and wipe is not the only way you are going to win the battle. Although most illnesses are spread through contaminated surfaces and physical contact, there are also those that can survive long durations airborne.? Some air fresheners are able to odour neutralise as well as eradicate airborne germs.?

Body spillages are another extremely infectious hurdle to overcome. Try using products such as Sanitaire Emergency Clean Up?which not only absorbs 400 times its own volume weight but it is also effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

3. Identify Your Daily Touch Points

Work out your touch points, the everyday spots that are touched by multiple people, and clean them daily! It only takes one infected person to contaminate the spot, and everyone who makes contact afterwards is at risk. The most common locations are door handles and light switches but microwave buttons and medicine trolleys can also be hiding dirty secrets.

4. Wash and Dry After Each Area

After each individual section of the building has been cleaned, make sure that you wash your?hands with soap and warm water, paying special attention to frequently missed spots such as the back of hands, wrists?and in-between fingers. Completely dry your hands with paper towels NOT by shaking them, as this will further spread the infection.

Consider using a sanitiser afterwards for added protection.

5. Dispose (Or Sterilise)

After each area has been thoroughly cleaned, dispose of all used PPE, cloths and mop heads into?a yellow clinical waste sack?and?ensure all non-disposable PPE is sterilised on its own?before re-use. You may think you are saving money be re-using items but it will cost a lot more when you have to de-contaminate.

To put it simply: adopting efficient cleaning practices, prioritising hand hygiene, using suitable products, and adhering to strict waste disposal methods can work wonders in wiping out those beastly bugs.

FACT:

Infection occurs when germs enter your body and begin to multiply

Diseases occurs when the cells in your body are damaged and symptoms of an illness appear.

For more help and/or product advice with infection control, please feel free to give us a call on 023 9243 4505 or email us?[email protected]