Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009 - (Page 22)

CEu artIClE (continued from page 10) Room for Measured Improvement Many operating room floors, restroom floors, and other areas are still being cleaned with the traditional mop and bucket. Based on ICM data on organic soil removal, the method is often substandard when compared to spray-and-vac systems and other technologies; it all but ensures some level of cross-contamination will occur as the operator moves from one area to another. Even when mop heads are consistently swapped out for new ones, the inefficiencies of the process—and the tendency for mops to move dirt around instead of removing it, as well as leaving it in grout lines—will result in soil and bacterial buildup on the flooring surface. According to Paul S. Darby MD, PhD, MPH, CIME, FACOEM: “The traditional cleaning method essentially turns a restroom floor into a very large culture plate, supplying ample water and nutrition to disease-causing organisms that can rapidly proliferate. As the numbers of organisms rise exponentially, the probability that an infective load will be transferred to a person’s skin by a single contact likewise rises because infections generally require a threshold number of organisms to be exceeded before disease results. The sprayand-vac method has the ability to prevent such conditions required for bacterial proliferation and disease transmission.” However, the problems go beyond the equipment. Liquid chemical disinfectants containing sodium hypochlorite, quaternary ammonium compounds, and phenols are traditionally used to mitigate the risk of surface-mediated infectious disease transmission, according to Dr. Benjamin Tanner, PhD., President of Antimicrobial Test Laboratories, but these technologies are not always practical or Based on ICM data on organic soil removal, the traditional mop and bucket method is often substandard when compared to sprayand-vac systems and other technologies. effective because of lengthy contact or “dwell” times, the potential for interference by antagonistic factors, allergenic attributes, and the inability of the chemicals to disinfect certain types of porous surfaces. In his study “Practical, Rapid Technology for Disinfection of Environmental Surfaces,” Dr. Tanner evaluated the efficacy and practicality of a dry steam vapor disinfection system with a proprietary nano-crystalization module for disinfection of institutional surfaces. He found that “the system is efficacious against a wide range of problematic microorganisms at much briefer contact times than those required for traditional disinfectants,” which holds obvious promise for CSPs and other professionals operating in areas where time and traffic constraints limit cleaning options. Hygienic Green cleaning, utilizing the ICM model, is the next step up the Green cleaning ladder. As more and more manufacturers, institutions and organizations support the concept of ICM and the link between measurable contaminate levels and health outcomes and fiscal impacts, the effort to have cleaning evaluated from a health and business perspective will continue to grow. u Marvin Ellsworth, REH, is the Director of Environmental Services at Village Shalom in Overland Park, KS, and the current President of IEHA. He may be reached at mellsworth@ieha.org. What are you waiting for? Take the CEU Quiz NOW! 22 Executive Housekeeping Today/March 2009

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Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009 Contents Executive Corner Why Integrated Cleaning and Measurement is Good for the Cleaning Industry Hygienic Green Cleaning - The Next Wave Frugal Housekeeper Integrated Cleaning and Measurement: A New Approach to Housekeeping and Sanitation Feature Article What's in YOUR Janitor Closet? The Green Scene 2009 Convention Information Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009

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