Wheelchair is a necessary medical equipment for patients in medical institutions. If it is not handled properly, it will spread bacteria and virus. The existing specifications do not provide the best way to clean and disinfect wheelchairs. Because the structure and function of wheelchairs are complex and diverse, they are made of different materials (such as metal frame, cushion, circuit), some of them are personal belongings of patients, and they are used by patients. Some are hospital items that are used by different patients, one or more. Long term wheelchair users may have physical disabilities or chronic diseases, which also increases the risk of drug-resistant bacteria transmission and nosocomial infection.
Canadian researchers conducted a qualitative study to investigate the current situation of wheelchair cleaning and disinfection in 48 medical institutions in Canada.
Disinfection methods of wheelchairs
In 1.85% of medical institutions, wheelchairs were cleaned and disinfected by themselves.
In 2.15% of medical institutions, some wheelchairs were regularly entrusted to external companies for deep cleaning and disinfection.
Clean way
1.52% of medical institutions were wiped with ordinary chlorine disinfectant.
2.23% of medical institutions used manual cleaning and mechanical disinfection, and the mechanical disinfection used the mixture of hot water, detergent and chemical disinfectant.
3.13% of the medical institutions spray spray to disinfect wheelchairs.
4.12% of medical institutions did not know the cleaning and disinfection methods of wheelchairs.
The survey results in medical institutions in Canada are not optimistic. There are few data on the cleaning and disinfection of wheelchairs in the existing survey. Because the wheelchairs used in each medical institution are different, this study did not give specific methods of cleaning and disinfection. However, according to the above survey results, the researchers summarized some suggestions and practical results according to some problems found in the survey Method of application:
1. If the wheelchair has blood stains or obvious pollutants after use, it must be cleaned and disinfected
Implementation plan: the process of cleaning and disinfection must be implemented. Disinfectants certified by medical institutions must be used. The specified concentration, disinfectants and disinfection facilities should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The cushion and armrest should be monitored regularly. If the surface is damaged, they should be replaced in time.
2. Medical institutions must have rules and regulations for wheelchair cleaning and disinfection
Implementation plan: who is responsible for cleaning and disinfection? How often is the frequency? What is the way?
3. The feasibility of cleaning and disinfection should be considered before the purchase of wheelchair
Implementation plan: the hospital infection management department and wheelchair user department should be consulted before purchase, and the specific implementation methods of cleaning and disinfection should be consulted with the manufacturer.
4. Wheelchair cleaning and disinfection training should be carried out among the staff
Implementation plan: the responsible person must be clear about the maintenance, cleaning and disinfection methods of the wheelchair, and be trained in time when changing personnel to make them clear their responsibilities.
5. Medical institutions should have a wheelchair use traceability mechanism
Implementation plan: clear marks should be used to distinguish clean wheelchairs from contaminated wheelchairs. Special patients (such as patients with infectious diseases transmitted through contact, patients with multi drug resistant bacteria) should use a wheelchair in a fixed way. Other patients should ensure that the cleaning and disinfection process has been completed before use, and patients should undergo terminal disinfection when they are discharged.
The above suggestions and implementation methods are not only applicable to the cleaning and disinfection of wheelchairs, but also can be applied to more medical related products in medical institutions, such as the wall tube type automatic blood pressure meter commonly used in outpatient department. All of them can be cleaned and disinfected according to the suggestions and implementation methods.
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