8 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6
Disinfecting wipes and sprays are all ready-to-use right out of the
container, and they're approved for use on a variety of OR sur-
faces, from plastic to stainless steel. However, traditional clean-
ing methods rely on the human element in order to achieve disin-
fection, and sometimes, that's not so reliable. Your staff must be
trained on how to properly use the wipes and sprays for disinfec-
tion. For example, they must keep the surface wet for the entire
disinfection contact time as noted on the label. The proper attrib-
utes of a disinfecting wipe or spray, including the right formula-
tion, distribution and contact time, are all essential factors in the
effectiveness of traditional methods. If you can't guarantee all
these components are included in your cleaning procedure, you
can't guarantee you've achieved whole-room disinfection.
— Sarah Handzel, BSN, RN
MANUAL CLEANING
The Trouble With Traditional Surface Disinfection
• ON THE SURFACE Is your staff trained on how to properly use the wipes and sprays for disinfection?
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
