Cleaning of Sterile Supply

[Kris]

Hello! I am having a problem with Housekeeping understanding how important it is to clean in Sterile Supply. I need help and any info that I can use to make them understand? Five months ago I was staffed to one person and that person is you got it ME! I have Surgical Instruments, Patient Equipment, Clinics, Other hospital Departments and Linen on a daily basis that I have to deal with, Now housekeeping says that they will only clean on Friday's, It is up to me to do the floors, top of cabinets and vents in my department Monday-Thursday, I am about at my wits end. I do all the daily cleaning on my part that needs to be done the shelfs, work tables, trash, linens, carts. I guess what I am asking is where can I go for info that states that my Department needs to be cleaned on a daily basis?

Thanks,
Kris

[sheper1]

I do not have the seventh edition but the six edition of the IAHCSMM CS tech manual states the following: the sterile storage unit should be wet mopped or wet vacuumed daily. No floor in CSD should be dry mopped or swept as both actions lift dirt and dust into the air to settle on wahtever might be present( for example, sterile packs, and packs being wrapped). All work surfaces should be wiped daily with a hospital approved germicidal agent. Housekeeping procedures should specify the concentrations and specific details for cleaning CSP areas. Cleaning should begin in Sterile storage and move out from there to assembly and cleaning and it should be completed in the decontamination room. the flow is from the cleanest area to the dirtiest area. Also I believe AAMI states CS should be wet mopped daily as well. I do not have the AAMI book in fornt of me to give you the section number but will look it up when I get to my other office.

[wcj]

Welcome to the club!!! Housekeeping supervisor considers our dept. as "clean when we have time". We've complained to everyone but congress. Even administration considers us glorified "Kitchen Help". We all just put stuff in the washer, right?? If you find an answer let me know. We have the same problems.

[dennalynn]

Keep fighting! Our manager fought and argued, everything he could do and we finally have a regular housekeeper every day, not just once a week! She empties trash, linen cleans our bathrooms and mops the floors-even in decontam! We still take care of wiping down our own work surfaces and cleaning storage carts. But having someone do the rest is great. Don't know what he finally said to convince them but he put up a good fight! Don't give up! If it ain't clean-it ain't sterile!

[Harvey Johnson]

AAMI St 70 Section 3.4 addresses housekeeping procedures.
Basically states SP cleaning procedures and frequency should be the same as those used to clean operating and delivery rooms insuring a high level of cleanliness at all times.

[libra]

Maybe you should try getting infection control involved.

[Kris]

Thanks to all who replied. Sorry it took me so long been busy! I am taking all the advise I got to my Director hopefully something can be done.

Thanks,
Kris