Properly cleaning healthcare facilities prevents harmful microorganisms from spreading. Patients in hospitals will be more susceptible to infections because their immune systems will not be working as efficiently as they normally would be due to any variable of health problems they are facing at the time. Because of this, it’s more important to maintain a clean environment within the healthcare facility. Healthcare associated infections or HAIs, annually infect one in twenty people who end up in the hospital. The CDC reports that 99,000 people die from HAIs annually. Nosocomial infections also knowns as HAIs, rank in the top 10 frequent causes of death in the United States. Cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces in healthcare facilities substantially reduces the spread of HAIs. To find a janitorial service near you that is certified to clean medical facilities, visit the IJCSA Janitorial Service Directory, and inquire if they have received medical cleaning certification.

To disinfect effectively, the right products to kill these HAI’s must be used, as not all disinfectants have the same strength level. Examples of different disinfectant strength levels being used in a hospital setting include; using low and intermediate level disinfectants for non-critical instruments and environmental surfaces, and high-level disinfectants for heat sensitive semi-critical medical devices. Properly cleaning and disinfecting the items in a hospital limits and controls the growth of microorganisms, thus reducing or eliminating any chance of infection.

Proper hand hygiene, wearing PPE, and disposing of hazardous materials in the correct manner, all are a part of proper cleaning protocol or infection control. Following proper cleaning procedures will control the spread of microorganisms and create a safe environment for everyone in the healthcare facility. To locate a janitorial service certified to clean healthcare settings, visit IJCSA’s Janitorial Service Directory, and inquire if they have medical cleaning certification.