turnover. For
example,
products
that have a
1-minute
dwell time
are widely
used and just
as effective as the
3-minute products. I
encourage facilities to
simplify their process-
es by considering
products with a short-
er dwell time if possi-
ble, while ensuring
that they're not com-
promising best practices.
3
What if the product dries in less time
than the manufacturer stipulates?
The answer I'm looking for is, "We wet the surface again until
we've reached the full time." Don't reset the timer. Rather, wet down
the surface again. The concept of "surfaces remaining wet" becomes
clearer as we delve into the importance of disinfection versus simply
wiping a surface to "clean it."
4
If a surface hasn't been used in the OR (a Mayo stand, for
example), should you disinfect it during room turnover?
Answers are mixed and I reiterate that surfaces in patient care
3 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 7
• DWELL TIME The number contained within a circle on your container of disinfec-
tant wipes indicates the length of time that the product needs to remain wet on the
surface.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
