By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS - Virus Disinfecting Services™

The Covid-19 pandemic is a global problem; the virus has limited everyone to his or her households. Many people are working from home which means that the majority of the workplaces are shut down until further notice.

Offices and workplaces are a significant cause of concern for the professionals. It is because different people are coming to work under a single roof. It is the ideal place where a virus can spread rapidly. Hence, it is the responsibility of the business owners to disinfect the place in order to prevent viral transmission of the virus.

What Does CDC Suggest About Disinfection of Workplaces?

CDC recommends cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces at the workplace, especially the high touch surfaces like

  •         Tables
  •         Doorknobs or handles
  •         Light Switches
  •         Countertops
  •         Handles
  •         Desks
  •         Phones
  •         Keyboards
  •         Toilets
  •         Faucets
  •         Sinks
A trained VDS™ technician electrostatically spraying disinfecting solution to workspace desktops and equipment.

Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?

Cleaning is the practice of washing all surfaces with soap and water. It is something that we do in the routine. On the other hand, disinfecting is a much thorough cleaning process. It involves the use of disinfectants or chemicals that are EPA registered.

Procedure for Disinfection

To disinfect the soft surfaces, clean those with EPA registered disinfectants. Consider sending whatever is possible to laundry by taking certain precautions.

Electronic Surfaces

These include:

  •     Tablets
  •     Touch screens
  •     Keyboards
  •     Remove controls
  •     ATMs

These areas are challenging to clean. It is because of the crevices between the buttons. Do not use soap or water to disinfect. Use 70% alcohol to clean these surfaces. Make sure to dry it carefully.

 Laundry

These include:

  • Clothing
  • Towel
  • Linen or others

Launder all the above items in warm water and dry them. When you are handling the laundry of a sick person, avoid shaking it. You can then clean these items using the guidelines for disinfecting soft surfaces. Laundry of items is only useful for workplaces where the employees work overnight.

 

The VDS™ team can disinfect large areas and get your business back up and running right away.

Why Are Disinfection Services Important?

The guidelines by the CDC about the disinfection of the workplace require extreme care. There are several things to look after when disinfecting the workplace. Here is where the disinfection services come in. Below are some reasons why their services are important

Trained professionals

An untrained person will not know how or what to do in such a case. Such people are not aware of what disinfectant to use. Furthermore, they will not be able to disinfect the workplace properly. People at disinfection services are highly trained in this field. They know the standard procedures and guidelines to do the task. These people are well aware of all the prerequisites of disinfecting the workplace. Overall, they are professionals of the disinfection procedure.

Handling the disinfectants

There are many hazards to handling disinfectants. The list for EPA registered disinfectants has its lists of hazards. If you do not follow precautions, then it can lead to some severe negative results. People disinfecting the workplace must know about OSHA’s hazard standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). But luckily, the people at disinfection services know about these standards as well. They will perform the entire process by considering these standards.

Safety for the employees at the workplace

The people at disinfection services not only disinfect the workplace. They are well aware of how to reduce side effects due to exposure to the disinfectants. Hence, they are careful about not leaving any residues behind. Additionally, these people also provide your employees with knowledge about the disinfection procedure. Employees more aware of the procedure can practice cleaning at home as well.

CONCLUSION

Disinfection is a tedious procedure. If you do not perform it carefully, it can lead to the spread of the virus in the workplace. Disinfection services, on the other hand, are professionals in their field. They are well aware of all the standard requirements and practices. Therefore, we should always prefer to hire companies that provide disinfection services over non-standard ways of disinfection.

 

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Services™

Health care facilities are crucial in controlling the spread of infections. It is because every inch of a healthcare facility can transmit infection. The cleaning and disinfection of the health care facilities are thus extremely crucial. Cleaning helps to clear the microbial contamination from the surfaces. On the other hand, we are aware that cleaning is not enough. Disinfection and sanitation are more thorough. They get rid of the microorganisms that remain even after cleaning.

What are health care facilities?

Health care facilities are institutions that provide medical aid to patients. During emergencies, health care facilities receive a large number of patients. These patients often suffer from diseases. For instance, these days, health care institutions mostly consist of COVID-19 patients. Examples of health institutions include:

  •  Hospitals
  •  Primary health care centers
  •  Isolation camps
  •  Burn units
  •  Feeding centers

The importance of disinfection and sanitation of the health care facilities

According to the CDC, health care facilities can harbor microorganisms. These microorganisms are harmful to the patients as well as visitors. Therefore, such an environment is quite risky for patients. Disinfection and sanitation on a routine basis help in reducing the risk. Approximately 30 to 40% of the infections are by the hands of health care workers. Apart from these, other non-critical surfaces can cause secondary infections. Non-critical surfaces include bedside tables and railings. This is why sanitation and disinfection are essential processes.

 

Recommendations for the sanitation and disinfection of health care facilities

CDC and WHO draft guidelines relevant to health. They have given us guidelines that help in controlling the spread of infection. A breakdown of these guidelines are as follows:

Sterilization

Sterilization is killing off the microorganism. However, sterilization does not always guarantee this. However, it is more effective than cleaning. According to guidelines, it kills 99.9999% of the microorganisms. You can sterilize an object by chemical and physical means. Physical means include the application of heat or radiation. Chemical sterilization is with the help of chemicals such as ethylene oxide.

Disinfection

EPA registered disinfectants are most common in health care facilities. These disinfectants are rapid-acting and non-toxic. It is important to dilute the disinfectant according to the directions by the manufacturer. Disinfectants can kill bacteria, fungi as well as viruses.

CDC recommends disinfecting all the health care equipment and also those areas which can cause secondary infection. The process of disinfection should take place regularly. This frequency can be daily or thrice a week. It is also preferable to replace mopping solutions with adequate disinfectant solutions.

CONCLUSION

A review of the guidelines shows that disinfection is the preferred method. It is vital to practice caution when preparing dilutions of disinfectant. Furthermore, do not use disinfectants on infants, bassinets, or incubators. It is important to note that cleaning of non-patient areas with detergent and water is enough. It includes the administrative areas of the health care facilities. Special care and instructions are important during the disinfection and sterilization process. Inadequate practices are ineffective and may aggravate the problems within the facility.

 

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