March 2014

Volume 3, Issue 15

The Clean World Revelation! Quality “Worry Free” Service

Hand Hygiene Lacking in US Hospi- infection control practices may be a learning opportunity for some managers and contractors, in the end it is also a tals: New research from the World Health Organi- valuable instance to prove the effectiveness of cleaning zation (WHO) and the Columbia University School procedures. The following infection control challenges are of Nursing indicates that further improvement of ranked by percentages: Worker Training 30%, Chemical hand hygiene practices in U.S. hospitals is needed. Selection 14%, Dwell Times 16%, Safety Requirements More than 2,000 U.S. hospitals were invited to 5%, Hand Hygiene Program 5%, Disinfectant Overuse complete an online survey about hand hygiene in 9%, Testing Methods 5%, Restroom Cleaning 16%. their facilities. Overall, 77.5 percent of participants Can You Answer These 10 Questions on Carpet Care? indicated that alcohol-based hand rub was continu- Do you and your cleaning staff know the basics when it ously available throughout their facility, while comes to carpet spotting and cleaning? More and more about 84 percent of facilities conduct annual manda- cleaning professionals now include cleaning and caring for tory training that states hand hygiene is required of their customer’s carpets in their services. This leaves many all healthcare workers. Hospitals that don’t focus cleaning services playing catch up, dealing with an area in heavily on hand hygiene puts patients at an unneces- which their staff may not have extensive training. The best sary risk for preventable healthcare-associated in- SUMMARY way cleaning professionals can learn how to care for car- fections (HAIs). The tone for compliance with in- pets is to take one of the many reputable courses available  Hand Hygiene Lacking fection control guidelines should be set at the high- from many distributers and organizations. Take this true or est levels of management. However, the study found in Hospitals: false quiz to see how you measure up. Answers located on that executives aren’t always doing all that they can pg. 2. 1. There are spotters now available on the market to send a clear message that preventing infections is that can adequately remove just about all types of spots on  Infection Control: a priority. WHO Calls for Improvement carpeting. True/False 2. When treating a spot, cleaning in US Hospitals’ Hand Hygiene professionals should start in the center of the spot and work toward the edge. True/False 3. It is always a good idea to Practices: 2,238 US hospitals were invited to  Reducing Cross cover a treated spot with a clean, white cloth. True/False complete an online survey about hand hygiene in 4. There are two ways to clean carpets using the bonnet Contamination of their facilities. Of the 168 facilities that responded, method: spray and immersion cleaning. True/False 5. 129 fully completed the survey and were included in Toilet Tissue: Carpet shampooing has been replaced by encapsulation the study. Fifty-eight percent have an established cleaning. True/False 6. Hot and cold water extraction are hand hygiene team. Half of the facilities reported equally effective. True/False 7. Cleaning professional having a budget dedicated to hand hygiene. Most  Did You Know: often use anti-foaming agents during the extraction process. facilities said executive leaders such as CEO, medi- True/False 8. It is no longer necessary to vacuum carpets cal director and director of nursing made a commit- before extraction because the extractor removes soils in the ment to support hand hygiene improvement. About cleaning process. True/False 9. One of the key benefits of  Training Employees: 86% of facilities reportedly inform patients about pre-spraying carpets before extraction is that it gives the the importance of hand hygiene. Fewer than half of chemicals more time to work. True/False 10. Some carpet all facilities have an established plan for participa- manufacturers require their carpets to be cleaned using the  Who? tion in WHO’s Save Lives: Clean Your Hands ini- extraction method in order to avoid invalidating the car- tiative. The results may be somewhat skewed due to pet’s warranty. True/False 1 Timothy 4:10 - For a low response rate and the nature of the study. therefore we both labor and More compliant hospitals may be more likely to par- Our customers buildings meeting the proper criteria ticipate, indicating a possible reporting bias. Over- suffer reproach, because we can be Certified as Green. all, there is room for improvement among US hospi- trust in the living God, who tals’ hand hygiene practices. Spotlighting In- is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe. fection Control: From hand hygiene pro- grams to touch point cleaning, from restroom chal- lenges to soft surfaces, the spotlight features explore a number of important infection control issues. As the professional cleaning industry continues to evolve, scientific measurement technology and the concept of cleaning for health have grown in impor- tance. New standards and data will continue to drive

cleaning procedures and techniques. While modern

March Birthdays

James Boone Betty Young The Clean World Revelation! Etta Levister Clean World USA Pg.2 J C Thrower extreme risk would be minor irritation of the skin, but even that is Celida Roman unlikely. To supplement the cleaning process, managers can in- Glenda Cabbagestalk stall plastic toilet tissue dispensers that are made with antimicro- bial protection and inhibit the growth of bacteria and other mi- Shareen Capers crobes. Dispensers made of copper and its alloys (including brass Isaac White and bronze) also offer antimicrobial protection. A proper disin- fecting program is essential and dispensers with antimicrobial Keith Gilliam protection can reduce the spread of microbes, but it is important Adrian Charles to remember that a strong hand washing program can also reduce contamination. Anything spread via a toilet tissue dispenser Shawnta Gresham shouldn’t be too much of an issue if restroom patrons wash up. James Brown All GCI training is now accredited. People who touch a contaminated dispenser, then wash their hands are probably not at any great risk, but people who touch a Franklin Durham Reducing Cross-Contamination contaminated dispenser, then don’t wash their hands are probably Alexis Wright at much greater risk of some of the infections. Of Toilet Tissue: While sanitizing the toilet Lawrence Okyere tissue dispenser is not top of mind, it is a restroom touch Micro Fiber: BLUE = Glass GREEN = Dusting, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !! point facility executives should not ignore. A toilet tis- GOLD = Stainless RED = Fixtures sue dispenser is a surface that can serve as a transmis- Carpet Care Answers From sion route for disease-causing microorganisms. If one Mission Statement: Our Goal is to become the indus- Page 1: 1.T, 2.F, 3.T, 4.T, 5.T, person contaminates a surface and another person try leader in providing janitorial and green-cleaning ser- touches that surface, the contamination is shared. 30 to 6.F, 7.T, 8.F, 9. T, 10.T vices. To offer quality, “worry-free” service to our valued 50 percent of the organisms that are on a hard surface such as stainless steel will transfer to a persons hand(s). stakeholders-our customers, employees, suppliers and the Inspect What You Touching is not the only contamination threat, another communities in which we do business. We will accom- issue is toilet spray or toilet plume. You get an aerosol Expect! production when you flush a toilet, sort of like a toilet plish this in a cost-effective manner utilizing a trained, sneeze. It looks like the 4th of July with rockets going capable and professional staff. Vision Statement: To off from inside the toilet. After putting viruses and bac- teria in toilets and after flushing, these microbes settle accommodate and exceed the expectations of all parties on surfaces throughout the restroom, particularly within that contribute to the execution of our mission. This in- three feet of the toilet. Obviously, toilet tissue dispens- ers fall into this vicinity. In fact toilet tissue dispensers cludes our employees, management, suppliers and inves- have 150 times more bacteria than toilet seats. 48 per- tors-We are a Team. cent of women either wipe a toilet seat or put toilet pa- per down before they sit, which makes the toilet seat one of the cleanest areas of the restroom. The most con- Did You Know: King Minos of Crete had the first taminated areas of the public restroom are the floor, the flushing water closet (toilet) recorded in history and that sanitary napkin disposal lid, the toilet flush handle, the sink and the taps. The toilet tissue dispenser is some- was over 2,800 years ago. The first packaged toilet paper where in between. Regardless of how contaminated a was the 1857 invention of American, Joseph Gayetty and toilet tissue dispenser may be, it should be a surface that custodial workers disinfect regularly. The likelihood of called Gayetty's Medicated Paper. In 1879, the Scott Paper someone touching this surface depends on the dispenser Company began selling the first toilet paper on a roll, how- and the people using it. Some dispensers, for example, require sliding a door to access more toilet tissue. If a ever, toilet paper in roll form did not become common until dispenser is functioning correctly and is well-stocked, 1907. there is less of a need to touch the dispenser and rest-

room users may only touch the toilet tissue. From a user Who? Should be You: Who is training your employees? standpoint, you want to touch only the paper you’re go- Who is responsible for your employees showing up for work? ing to use and nothing else, if that’s possible. You don’t Who makes sure your employees know what to do when they get want to touch any of the hardware that’s part of the toi- to work and who makes sure they know how to do their job(s) let tissue dispenser. The surface germs of concern are correctly? Who makes sure your employees work safely? Again, those spread through the fecal-oral route. Anything that News Letter Editor who is training your employees? Without a doubt…..it should be could end up in the toilet could potentially end up on the YOU. L. Cameron Floyd toilet tissue dispenser. There might be salmonella, "If a man empties his purse into his Business Development Hepatitis A, norovirus or germs that cause diarrhea. To minimize the threat of cross-contamination, toilet tissue head, no one can take it from him. An Clean World USA dispensers should be disinfected daily. Workers might investment in knowledge always pays 2327 Prosperity Way Suite 8 challenge manager’s instructions to disinfect these sur- faces, fearing chemical might attach to exposed tissue the best interest." Florence, SC 29501 843-669-2273 and affect restroom users. EPA-registered disinfectants "The doors of wisdom are never shut." tested indicated that if disinfectant spray would fall on Benjamin Franklin the toilet tissue that chemical exposure at the most