faces is the vital first step that lets cleaning solutions or whole-room
systems reach bacteria that linger on surfaces.
6. Consider whole-room disinfection systems
We're a small surgery center, so cost could be a prohibitive factor,
but we're seriously considering investing in a whole-room disinfec-
tion unit to maximize our terminal-cleaning efforts. We require our
cleaning crew to move all pieces of equipment and furniture in order
to touch every area of the OR, but human error will always be part of
the process. Whole-room technology appears to be effective in reach-
ing places that staff can't reach or forget to cover and is ideally suit-
ed for a terminal clean. There are several options to chose from, each
with its own benefits and potential drawbacks. Units that deliver
ultraviolet light are straightforward to set up and use, and are effec-
tive at inactivating a wide range of microorganisms. But they must be
in direct line of sight of the surfaces they're treating, so you must
reposition them several times to reach all areas of the room.
Hydrogen peroxide systems treat surfaces with vapor, aerosolized
dry mist and vaporized ozone hydrogen peroxide. While you don't
have reposition them, staff face the challenge of sealing rooms off
before treating them.
OSM
9 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
Ms. Williams (nwilliams@lsdc.net) is the OR director and infection prevention-
ist at Lakeland (Fla.) Surgical & Diagnostic Center.
