Cluttered surfaces prevent effective cleaning from being carried out, this can mean that bacteria such as C.diff and viruses like COVID-19 , Flu and norovirus can live in the environment for longer and spread more easily.
- Store equipment in cupboards, not on surface tops
- Remove equipment that is no longer required
- Keep work surfaces clear to enable cleaning
- Don’t store equipment on the floor
For IP week we are encouraging staff and services to ‘Dump the Junk’ and ‘clear the clutter’. For example:
- Equipment that is broken and no longer used
- Out of date stock
- Too much stock or stock no longer required
- Desk items not regularly used
Download the Clear the clutter, keep it clean poster to display in staff areas.
Cleaning
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularly helps remove viruses and bacteria from the environment.
Did you know that without effective cleaning and disinfection Viruses such as Flu can live in the environment for up to 2 days and bacteria such as C.diff can live in the environment for months!
Be aware of the differences between cleaning and disinfection
Cleaning with detergent physically removes most germs, dust and dirt from most objects and surfaces.
Cleaning should be performed regularly and always comes before disinfection
Disinfection kills germs on surfaces that have been cleaned
Disinfection should be used regularly in bathrooms and toilets.
When someone has an infection such as C.diff or Flu regular cleaning and disinfection is required for surfaces and equipment.
Healthcare Waste Management
Follow these steps for safe waste disposal
Always dispose of waste:
- immediately and as close to the point of use as possible; and
- into the correct segregated colour coded waste bag or rigid container or
- sharps box if a sharp
- waste bags must be no more than 2/3 full and must be securely tied using a plastic tie or secure knot and labelled
- store all waste in a designated, safe, lockable area while awaiting collection.
- Local guidance on management of waste at care level, eg, domiciliary settings should be followed
See section 1.9 of the National infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) for England for further guidance.
To take part in this years IPC week ‘Clear the Clutter’ and ‘Dump the junk’ campaign you can send before and after pictures of when you have decluttered a room or space to [email protected] for a chance to win a prize!
