Leaving wipe containers open. When the lid isn't tightly closed, wipes
dry out. That leads to less effective disinfection.
Missing nooks and crannies. Ventilation goes a long way, but you still
have to clean thoroughly. You don't want dust in the corners or on
the lights.
Not keeping up with training. The science is always evolving and
newer products involve different instructions. Most of us have
transitioned to microfiber mops and cloths in recent years, and those
require different processes than we used with cotton. Hold in-services
on the proper ways to use cleaning tools and products.
Not monitoring. We use fluorescent markers and black lights periodi-
cally to help staff see whether they're cleaning surfaces adequately.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing is another effective tool.
Using vinegar instead of honey. If people aren't doing an adequate
job, encouragement usually works better than scolding. Make
sure environmental staff feel valued, and make sure they understand
how important their jobs are.
Not having champions. You can't be everywhere, so you have to
have friends everywhere — people who have a vested interest in
seeing that things are done properly, who do the right things for the
right reasons and who hold others accountable. Our champions meet
once a month to talk about issues and to share new information. OSM
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Ms. Hughes (hughesa@mlhs.org) is an infection preventionist at Riddle Hospital in Media, Pa.
