Cintas Announces Top 5 Things Infection Preventionists Should Know about Their Hospital’s Microfiber Program
July 12 2010 - 10:25AM
Business Wire
In conjunction with APIC 2010, Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS)
today announced five important questions infection preventionists
should ask their Environmental Services Director about their
microfiber cleaning program. By asking these questions, infection
prevention professionals will better understand the role of
microfiber in the hospital’s floor and surface cleaning program,
and can help develop optimal cleaning protocols that reflect the
need for proper infection prevention.
1. How are microfiber products washed? If microfiber
products are washed with cotton materials, cotton fibers will
infiltrate the microfiber – limiting its ability to collect and
retain the dangerous microbes it is intended to remove. The use of
bleach is also important. While the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) recommends the use of bleach to effectively remove bacteria
and spores when cleaning microfiber, many microfiber products do
not allow the use of bleach during the cleaning process.
2. At what temperature are microfiber products dried? To
keep the integrity of the fibers intact, it is recommended to dry
microfiber at a moderate temperature. Higher temperatures may be
used to speed up the drying process, but could result in the
melting or fusing of the fibers – again inhibiting the
effectiveness of the product in removing microbes.
3. What quality and size microfiber is being used? The
smaller the microfiber, the more effective it will be in removing
bacteria from environmental surfaces. Look for microfibers with a
split polyester-polyamide filament that are less than .13 denier
for maximum effectiveness in removing the smallest
microorganisms
4. Are microfiber products used for cleaning all high touch
surfaces throughout the hospital or just for mopping floors? A
study by the UC Davis Health System found that switching from
conventional loop mops to microfiber mops can reduce the presence
of bacteria by as much as 99 percent1. However, cross contamination
risk is exacerbated by improper cleaning of high-touch surfaces
such as bed rails, over-bed tables and bedside cabinets. Wiping
these high-touch surfaces with cotton or other non-microfiber
materials could be ineffective.
5. What employee training programs are in place for using
microfiber? The proper use of microfiber is paramount in
maximizing infection control efforts. New employees should receive
training on proper disinfection techniques before starting work.
Current employees should receive ongoing training to ensure best
practices are being used.
“While today most hospitals are using microfiber to clean their
facility, many infection preventionists are not aware of how that
microfiber is being used and cared for,” said John Savage, Director
of Marketing, Healthcare, at Cintas. “If microfiber is not properly
maintained or used, it can actually spread infection. By working
with the environmental services department, infection
preventionists can maximize their infection control efforts and
limit hospital-acquired infections.”
To learn more, APIC attendees can visit Cintas executives at
booth 1103. The first 100 visitors to the booth who fill out a
short survey will receive a free Starbucks® gift card.
For more information on Cintas’ solutions for healthcare
facilities, go to http://www.cintashealthcare.com/.
About Cintas:
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly
specialized services to businesses of all types primarily
throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and
implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides
entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid,
safety, fire protection products and services and document
management services for approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is
a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market
under the symbol CTAS and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of
the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
1
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/newsroom/releases/archives/other/2006/mop6-2006.html
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