Top 5 Healthcare High-Touch Surface Areas - Protect with Q.T.® 3
November 15, 2018
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that high-touch areas should be cleaned more frequently than minimally-touched surfaces, ideally at least once a day.
When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting, preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is the top priority. Focusing on high-touch surfaces can help stop the spread of infection, and prevent HAIs.
Researchers conducted an 18-month study to determine what constitutes as high-touch surfaces in healthcare environments. The top five high-touch surfaces are:
- Bed Rails
- Bed Surfaces
- Supply Carts
- Over-Bed Table
- Intravenous Pump
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that high-touch areas should be cleaned more frequently than minimally-touched surfaces, ideally at least once a day.
“A major concern in healthcare facilities when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces is contact time. The lower the contact time the better,” says Hillyard’s Vice President of Research and Development Stuart Hughes.
While faster acting Ready-To-Use (RTU) disinfectants have been available, new technology has resulted in a more cost effective, concentrated option.
Hillyard’s Q.T. 3 is a concentrated disinfectant that provides fast contact times of one to five minutes. “It’s an excellent solution for high-touch surface disinfectants,” says Product Manager Randy Cusick. “It provides efficacy against a wide array of pathogens including 23 bacterial claims such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Q.T. 3 is also effective against Norovirus, with a kill claim of five minutes,” Cusick says. (See Q.T. 3 literature for complete claims listing).
The study also suggests that healthcare facilities should incorporate decontamination protocols including checklists, staff training, and monitoring of high-touch surfaces.
According to Director of Training Jay Redmond, Hillyard can help by providing the right systems, training and motivation to elevate cleaning staff to deliver exception results and enhance the level of care. “The training Hillyard provides is a major reason so many healthcare facilities choose to do business with Hillyard,” Redmond says.
Q.T. 3 is available for both Hillyard Arsenal® 1 and Cleaning Companion® dispensing systems.
Environmental Services staff should always read labels and SDS to ensure proper use.
For more information on how Hillyard can help reduce HAIs in your healthcare facility, click here.