Unit 316: Hospital Housekeeping and Infection Control

1. Importance of Hospital Housekeeping

• Significance of a clean hospital environment
• Role in infection prevention
• Impact on patient safety and recovery
• Regulatory standards and compliance requirements

2. Infection Control Measures in Hospital Housekeeping

• Overview of infection transmission in healthcare settings
• Proper cleaning techniques
  • Cleaning vs. disinfection vs. sterilization
• Disinfection protocols
  • Types of disinfectants and their uses
  • Contact times and application methods
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Types of PPE (gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection)
  • Correct donning and doffing procedures
• Handling biohazardous materials safely

3. Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures for Patient Rooms

• Step-by-step cleaning guidelines
  • Bed linens: removal, handling, and replacement
  • Surfaces: high-touch areas, furniture, walls
  • Medical equipment cleaning considerations
  • Bathroom sanitation procedures
• Adherence to infection control practices during cleaning
• Documentation and record keeping

4. Handling and Disposing of Biohazardous Waste

• Classification of biohazardous waste
  • Sharps, infectious waste, pathological waste, chemical waste
• Segregation requirements
  • Color-coded bins and containers
• Proper packaging and labeling
• Disposal methods
  • On-site treatment, off-site disposal
• Safety precautions for healthcare workers and environment

5. Environmental Services Equipment and Tools

• Types of cleaning equipment
  • Mops, vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, microfiber cloths
• Cleaning products
  • Detergents, disinfectants, sanitizers
• Equipment functions and selection criteria
• Maintenance and safety protocols
  • Regular inspections, cleaning, storage

6. Emergency Cleaning Protocols

• Types of emergencies requiring cleaning
  • Spills (chemical, biological), infectious outbreaks, environmental contamination
• Containment measures
  • Isolation, barriers, signage
• Reporting protocols
  • Chain of communication and documentation
• Decontamination processes
  • Use of specialized agents, PPE upgrades
• Post-incident review and follow-up

7. Quality Assurance and Compliance in Hospital Housekeeping

• Quality assurance programs
  • Objectives and components
• Audit and inspection processes
  • Checklists, frequency, corrective actions
• Compliance standards
  • Local, national, and international regulations
• Documentation requirements
  • Cleaning logs, incident reports, training records
• Continuous improvement strategies