Cleaning- free from dirt or pollution
Disinfection - to clean (something) especially by using a chemical substance that kills all germs and bacteria
Sterilization - to clean (something) by destroying germs or bacteria
Dirt and debris on a medical device can pose a risk to patients and staff. Blood-borne pathogens and Other Potential Infectious Material (OPIM) can live on the surface and survive on that debris.
Use the following MADD-CERTIFIED checklist when deciding whether or not to immediately initiate the cleaning process.
1. Is the medical device or apparatus visibly dirty or polluted? If yes move onto question 2.
2. Are you due for a Joint Commission Inspection? Has your last Joint Inspection been over 2-3 years? If yes, move on to question 3.
3. Do you have something to clean the device? Clean rags/cloths, water/soap solution. If yes, then proceed to the cleaning process checklist.
CLEANING PROCESS – The two wipe method.
1. Put on two utility gloves. If you have two gloves on one hand, you misunderstood. Put one glove on each hand. Wearing utility gloves will make it known to others in view that you are doing something clinical. If utility gloves are not available, you can use surgical gloves which look cooler, or if you do not have access to surgical gloves then use medical exam gloves.
Note: Medical exam gloves are thin and can be easily penetrated by harsh cleaning chemicals.
2. Once you have your gloves on, grab a wash cloth in your left hand and the cleaning agent on your right. If you are left handed, please find someone who is right handed to continue cleaning procedure.
3. DO NOT SPRAY any chemical or water/detergent mix directly on the medical apparatus. With your RIGHT hand, spray some cleaning agent onto the cloth, which should be in your left hand, until it is damp; not wet. If your left hand is wet, make sure you had the cloth in your hand, and that you did not simply spray the cleaning solution directly to your left hand.
4. Clean the medical device in a methodical wax on, wax off fashion. Start with the machine facing you. Apply the damp cloth to the far left corner gently scrubbing the surface of the device. Work your way from far left to far right, then continue scrubbing in small circular motions from left to right, working your way toward the front of the machine.
5. Take another clean cloth, this time spraying the cloth with warm water. The cloth should be damp not wet. Use the cloth to wipe any cleaning mixture off the surface of the device.
6. Take yet another clean dry cloth. Finally with a clean dry cloth, wipe the surface (side to side and not up, down. Why? Because Mr. Miyagi said so) of the medical device to remove any moisture off the surface of the device.
7. If the device is attached to a pole, perform the same process.
Optional but highly discouraged.
If the pole has casters, a little Armor All on the wheels will make that baby THE talk of the Nursing Department. Warning! Petroleum based products are flammable so, do not REALLY do this.
8. Ensure that any pole or accessory is thoroughly inspected; top to bottom.
Quiz:
If a medical device is dirty, you should:
a. Clean it b. Create a work order
c. buy a new one d. spray febreeze
Sterilization and disinfection are the same thing
a. True b. False c. Call a friend
When you remove your disposable gloves you should:
a. Throw them away b. Clean them
c. use them up to 3 times
d. wear them all day long
Properly cleaning a medical device will help
a. spread infections to the technician
b. prevent the spread of infections
c. make your hospital look better to visitors
d. make your day go by quicker
The preceding procedure, if followed will help the hospital meet which standard.
a. IC 02.02.01
b. IC 02.02.01
c. IC 02.02.01
d. IC 02.02.01
Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-a, 4-b, 5-a;b;c;d