Healthcare Hygiene magazine September 2020 September 2020 | Page 24

TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS AND COVID-19
By incorporating
the Seven
Aspects of
Surface
Selection into
the Hierarchy
of Controls,
an innovative
method begins
to emerge for
addressing
surfaces more
comprehensively.
•
and patient equipment are the main contributing factor for the
acquisition and spread of pathogens, but these surfaces only
make up about 25 percent of surfaces in patient and procedure
rooms.
Limiting focus on these surfaces and/or these thought
processes leaves about 75 percent of the surfaces that exist in the
healthcare environment unaddressed. These include upholstery
on furniture, walls, floors, linen, fixtures, and more. They also
include surfaces made up of multiple surface materials that
interact with patient and personnel, including medical devices,
surgical equipment, and instruments. In addition, soft surfaces
such as scrubs, hospital gowns, and bedding always move
between various areas of the hospital and can serve as fomites.
By incorporating the Seven Aspects of Surface Selection
into the Hierarchy of Controls, an innovative method begins
to emerge for addressing surfaces more comprehensively.
The process more closely integrates infection prevention
and occupational health and allows healthcare institutions,
manufacturers, and experts the ability to address controls for
surfaces in a more methodical process with the focus first on
making the biggest impact.
Currently, there are no consistent surface testing standards or
requirements. This can leave those accountable and responsible
for infection prevention and patient care at risk. This is due in
part to a general lack of understanding and knowledge about
the impact surface materials and composition can have on the
ability to successfully clean, disinfect, and/or sterilize them.
Why do healthcare institutions focus on work practices like
properly cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces and
cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments, but manufacturers
are not held accountable and responsible for ensuring their
•
There is a great deal that
the infection prevention and
environmental services community
can learn from their occupational
health and safety partners,
including ways to integrate the
hierarchy of controls into their
processes, policies and practices.
materials and products meet the
demanding requirements and needs of
healthcare facilities and professionals?
There is a great deal that the infection
prevention and environmental
services community can learn from
their occupational health and safety
partners, including ways to integrate the
hierarchy of controls into their processes,
policies and practices. Neither infection
prevention nor occupational health have
more resources than they need to reduce
risks for the patients and providers they
work to protect. The most effective
programs are those that partner “across
the aisle” and share not only resources,
but expertise and experience.
What are the Seven Aspects of
Surface Selection ™
To reduce the role that healthcare
surfaces play in the acquisition and
transmission of pathogens, the “Seven
Aspects of Surfaces Selection™” must be
evaluated to address this issue proactively.
Considerations include:
1. Location: Location of the surfaces–high
contamination and high
turnover areas require durable
surfaces that can withstand
frequent disinfection. Example:
OR, ED.
24 september 2020 • www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com