Environmental Services (EVS) teams play a pivotal role in safeguarding the healthcare environment. Their responsibilities include maintaining cleanliness, preventing the spread of infections, and ensuring patient safety. To set EVS teams up for success, it is essential to equip them with effective and efficient cleaning and disinfecting products.
The Advantages of Ready to Use (RTU) Products
Ready to Use (RTU) products offer several advantages over traditional dilutable disinfectants. While RTU disinfectants may appear more expensive at first glance, evaluating the true cost and impact reveals their value:
- Efficacy: Dilutable disinfectants require proper mixing to achieve the correct concentration. Unfortunately, human error and dilution machine inaccuracies are inherent risks. If the in-use concentration falls below the recommended level, the disinfectant may not effectively eliminate dangerous pathogens. This oversight could leave vulnerable patients at risk.
- Contamination: Even when the dilution liquid is correctly prepared, reusable microfiber cloths pose contamination risks. A study found that after laundering, 93% of reusable microfiber towels still contained harmful bacteria1. Cross-contamination on surfaces becomes a concern, jeopardizing patient safety.
- Hidden Costs: Dilutable disinfectants demand additional labor and resources. The time spent preparing solutions and training staff on dilution ratios adds to operational costs. In contrast, RTU products streamline the process, reducing labor requirements and minimizing hidden expenses.
The Impact on Patient Safety
Choosing the right disinfectants directly affects patient safety. By opting for RTU products, healthcare facilities can:
- Minimize Errors: RTU products, such as pre-moistened wipes, eliminate the risk of incorrect dilution, ensuring consistent and effective disinfection. With RTU disinfection products, healthcare facilities can have confidence that the EVS team is applying the right amount of disinfectant, for the right contact time, every time.
- Reduce Contamination: When RTU products are being used according to directions for use, the risk of cross-contamination or variation in concentration is eliminated since there is no need for mixing, dilution machines, or laundering. Reusable cloths can harbor bacteria and other pathogens, but RTU products help to mitigate this risk.
- Enhance Efficiency and Compliance: When using RTU disinfectants, no mixing and dilution training is required, helping staff save time and effort. Further, with the ability to use RTU products in an instant, staff can efficiently and effectively work through compliant room turnover, so patients get the critical care they need as soon as possible. RTU solutions save time, allowing EVS teams to focus on patient care.
In the pursuit of patient safety, investing in Ready-to-Use products is a strategic decision. Products like Clorox Healthcare® Bleach Germicidal Disinfectants not only help to protect patients but also streamline operations and reduce hidden costs.
Remember, patient safety is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s continue to prioritize it in our healthcare facilities by equipping our teams with the tools they need to succeed, from the ER to the OR and beyond.
References
1. Sifuentes LY, Gerba CP, Weart I, Engelbrecht K, Koenig DW. Microbial contamination of hospital reusable cleaning towels. Am J Infect Control. 2013 Oct;41(10):912–5. doi: 10.1016/jajic.2013.01.015. Epub 2013 Mar 22. PMID: 23523522
