Strategies for the prevention of infections after COVID-19 - REMI network

As we gradually recover from the pandemic, we need to remember that there have been numerous pandemics and infectious disease epidemics throughout history. Reports from Ancient Greece and Egypt describe epidemics of smallpox, leprosy, tuberculosis, meningitis, and a host of other infections. In fact, there is now evidence that even Ramses V, who founded Egypt in the mid-11th century BC, C., had smallpox and may have died from it.

In ancient times, few people knew what caused these infections, how they spread, or, more importantly, how to protect people from disease. Today we know better about infections. As we saw with COVID-19, scientists also know how to develop vaccines and drugs to prevent and treat infections that once killed thousands, if not millions, of people.

However, as COVID-19 takes a back seat, we've learned from the pandemic never to be on guard. History teaches us that infections will continue to be a serious problem around the world. Furthermore, we cannot always count on science to come to the rescue as quickly as it did with COVID-19.

This means that in the future, facility managers and cleaning professionals will need advanced infection prevention and control strategies to stop the spread of disease. Here is the book Dr. Michael Berry Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health.

Published two decades ago, it has become the professional cleaning industry's bible for effective cleaning. And while many infectious diseases like COVID-19 are transmitted through inhalation, Berry recalls that many are also transmitted through touching contaminated surfaces.

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A perfect example that affects many parts of the world at this time of year is the norovirus. Norovirus outbreaks can occur anywhere - schools, offices, restaurants, and many other types of commercial establishments. While we hear more about norovirus on cruise lines, there are more cases of norovirus on land than at sea. The virus is highly contagious and is usually transmitted when someone has the virus. The disease affects surfaces that are then touched by other people. . This is a common form of cross-contamination.

Components of an effective infection prevention program

Managers and cleaning professionals who want to develop an effective infection control program can do so by following the steps listed below. Although these steps can depend on several factors: age groups of people using the facility, how the facility is used, what type of facility it is, how often it is used, etc. - in most cases:

• Identify high contact areas. This is where the risk of spreading the infection is greatest. In addition to typical areas such as doorknobs and light switches, also look at ledges, railings and corridor floors. According to Mark Warner, former ISSA on-call coach, we have around 50 direct and indirect contacts with the apartments every day. Indirect contacts are situations in which we touch a surface that has been in contact with the ground, such as when lifting a pen. This means that contaminated soil can spread disease.
• A fresh look. It is often advisable to have the installation checked by a third party, for example a cleaning dealer. Often times, these new eyes find problem areas that those who use the facilities on a daily basis fail to see.
• Chemical selection. Due to COVID-19, some facility managers and cleaning professionals believe that all surfaces that are touched frequently should be cleaned and then disinfected. This is not necessarily the case. "In most situations, regularly cleaning surfaces with soap and detergent, without necessarily disinfecting those surfaces, is enough to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19," said the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Rochelle Walensky Disease Prevention in a guideline published April 4th. , 2021. (See box: Correct use of disinfectants)

An effective infection prevention and control program also includes:

• Use appropriate cleaning systems and procedures. Studies now indicate that complete cleaning systems such as spraying and vacuuming (no contact) remove germs and bacteria from surfaces much more effectively than sprinklers, cleaning cloths and certainly mops and buckets. Spray and vacuum systems are machines that apply cleaning solutions to surfaces, rinse the same surfaces, and then use at least one type of system to soak up moisture, cleaning solution, and contaminants. This opens the areas that have just been cleaned for use in a few minutes.
• The use of ATP systems to assess surfaces before and after cleaning. Before it tells us how potentially contaminated a surface is. Then it indicates the effectiveness of the cleaning process. Even if you are evaluating a table, for example, it makes sense to test different areas of the table. While ATP systems don't tell us what type of bacteria, viruses, or microorganisms are on a surface, a high level of ATP indicates that contaminants may be present. If so, personnel should clean or re-clean these surfaces. *
• Launch ongoing education and training programs for cleaner professionals, review protocols, and train cleaners on new infection control products, techniques, and procedures. Training can be provided in classroom-like environments or using new training technologies such as those installed in some cleaning equipment or accessible through smartphones.

Facility managers should also attend training programs so that they can fully understand the infection prevention strategies implemented in their facilities. And something else. In addition to training and education programs, many managers find it helpful to educate building users about the steps they need to take to stay healthy.

This is another lesson we learned from the pandemic. Transparency is essential. Anyone using the facility should be aware of applicable infection control measures.

* Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an energetic molecule that is present in all microorganisms and is considered an indicator of life. When detected on a surface, it can indicate the presence of microorganisms that are dangerous to health and life.

Box: Correct use of disinfectants

• The two stages. Personnel must first clean surfaces to remove germs and dirt from a surface and then apply a disinfectant. Removing the dirt will help the disinfectant work more efficiently. This two-step process is usually not required when using a spray and vacuum process.
• Kill the claims. All disinfectants registered by the EPA in the US and most commonly used in Canada have a "fatality" mark on the product label or on packaging materials. This precisely identifies the pathogens that it is supposed to eliminate.
• Live and stay wet. Disinfectants must remain on the surface for a few minutes to be effective. However, during this time they must remain moist. If it dries out, the entire cleaning and disinfection process must be repeated.
• Binding notebook. Quat bonding occurs when the key ingredients of most disinfectants, quats, are absorbed by the cleaning cloth or mop. In this case, the effectiveness of the disinfectant will decrease. As much as possible, clean the surfaces with cleaning systems for flat surfaces and avoid the use of mops as much as possible. Quadruple connection is not a problem with spray and vacuum systems.

Drew Bunn is the Canadian sales director for Kaivac Canada , a manufacturer of professional cleaning tools , equipment, and systems that help protect health and contain the spread of infection. Contact Bunn at dbunn@kaivac.com

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