Cleaning and Disinfecting

Published: Nov 8, 2010

Ten Tips for Cleaning and Disinfecting Shared Medical Equipment

1. Make a list of all the medical equipment that will be shared between healthcare personnel.
2. Assign cleaning and disinfection duty to staff who will keep your policy in mind while performing the task.
3. Communicate all administrative decisions to staff members both orally and in writing.
4. Train staff on proper care, maintenance and storage of each equipment. This should be done at the time of employment and needs to be documented as well. Personnel should also know when equipment should be replaced.
5. Select easy to use EPA registered hospital grade disinfectants and cleaning products. Be sure the product lists which viruses and organisms it kills. Use manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid equipment damage or warranty issues.
6. Clean medical devices with a dampened cloth and soap to remove any visible organic material before disinfecting. This is necessary when blood or bloody fluids are visible.
7. If no visible organic material is present, disinfect the exterior surfaces of the equipment after each use using a cloth or wipe that is either HBV/HIV label claim or dilute bleach solution of 1:10 to 1:100 concentration or use an EPA-registered detergent/germicide with a tuberculocidal.
8. Keep in mind that Alcohol is not an EPA registered detergent/disinfectant.
9. Use disposable professional grade wipes that kill germs after 60 seconds of application to make the equipment cleaning process quick and easy.
10. All cleaning should be done in well ventilated areas and personnel should wear gloves to protect the hands.

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