ERASE PATHOGENS
Keep surfaces and people safe
The EVS struggle is real.
There are a lot of external factors that Environmental Services (EVS) has to deal with on a daily basis. Many of these concerns create roadblocks to infection prevention initiatives. HFM Magazine published the results of a survey aimed at documenting the top concerns of EVS workers. Here are a few that topped the list: Pressure to expedite room turns, Assigned responsibility to clean mobile objects, High turnover in EVS, No standard practice, and Lack of knowledge in the role of the environment in cross contamination and transmission9.
Tackling the problem.
Clear-cut guidelines on how to solve surface contamination don’t exist. That’s why we’ve worked with experts nation-wide to develop a comprehensive surface cleaning and disinfection system. It combines process with evidence-based products and education to help decrease the spread of HAIs.
Facts About Hospital-Associated Infections (HAIs): Causes, Cost and Outcomes
Facts About Hospital-Associated Infections (HAIs): Causes, Cost and Outcomes
Helping you do the right thing.
Our bundle approach helps you create and maintain a successful cleaning and disinfection program.
First we examine your current protocols. We observe cleaning practices, evaluate appropriateness of products and perform ATP swabbing to quantitatively measure cleanliness. Once complete, you’ll receive specific recommendations to address identified problem areas.
Our Clean by Sequence™ method with numbered microfiber booklets guide your staff from surface to surface, so nothing is missed and cross contamination is minimized.
You choose the right mix of products—evidence-based with quick contact times—to satisfy the specific needs of your facility.
You can access a variety of online and onsite training materials to help staff improve their skills.
Periodic reviews using ATP testing provide you with data to track improvements and correct weak spots. Engineered for healthcare, our ATP system has patented samplers for covering large areas quickly, data reporting based on CDC recommendations and a full-color display.
Clean by Sequence.™
The CDC recognized 17 different high-touch surfaces that are most vulnerable to the spread of pathogens. Giving your staff a step-by-step system helps ensure thoroughness and consistency. Our clean by sequence process uses a numbered microfiber booklet, disinfectant, and “hot spot” map, making it easy to train, implement and follow. The result—optimal cleaning, enhanced outcomes and reduced throughput times.
Housekeeping staff often use the same cloth to clean the whole room—a cross contamination risk. Our numbered microfiber booklets ensure a separate cloth is used for each surface and no surface is missed. They come in three colors: blue for the patient room, orange for restroom use, and purple for other discharge room surfaces and ancillary areas of the hospital.
Mobile and shared patient equipment are often overlooked in cleaning protocols. Presaturated disinfectant wipes are an easy way to make sure these devices are frequently disinfected by caregivers.
FLOORSMop all floor surfaces with a micofiber mop, starting farthest from the door and moving towards the door. Use a new mop when cleaning the bathroom to avoid cross contamination. A floor-safe disinfectant with a low contact time is considered best practice instead of a general cleaner without disinfection properties.
Fight pathogens.
Our products give you a powerful weapon in the battle against HAIs: To get access to all the benefits of the ERASE Pathogens program, choose from a selection of top-tier infection prevention products.
Clean by Sequence booklets are required plus two out of the four following categories must be purchased to get access to ERASE Pathogens.
Germicidal Wipes
Kills C. auris, C. difficile spores and other pathogens*.
Micro-Kill™ OneKills TB, Norovirus, Polio virus, MRSA, VRE and more—in one minute or more*.
Disinfectant Solutions
This dispensed disinfectant kills HIV-1, Hepatitis B, MRSA, VRE and Rotavirus. The Medline dispenser and metering tip in the bottle ensure accurate dilution every time.
Micro-Kill™ NQ5This dispensed disinfectant has a neutral pH and saves time with 5 and 10 minute disinfection*. Ideal for use on floors where a low contact time is needed.
BruTab 6S Disinfectant TabletsNon bleach disinfectant effective against C. difficile and other pathogens*.
Microfiber Cloths and Mops
Dense microfibers pick up and lock in dirt so it doesn’t get pushed around.
Disinfection Systems
High energy pulsed UV light leads to micro-organism disintegration, meaning Solaris Lytbot quickly and dependably eliminates the most stubborn pathogens from high-risk areas. It features 360-degree rotation to cover the whole room, as well as three-and five-minute cycles that are 15 - 40% faster than competitors.
* Refer to product label for full list of pathogens, contact times and cleaning and disinfection directions.
Complementary Products: While not required to gain access to the program, the below products
are recommended for a complete infection protection practice.
are recommended for a complete infection protection practice.
Exam Gloves
Enhanced donning technology to help don on to hands easier.
FitGuard Touch Powder-Free Nitrile Exam GlovesDurable nitrile protection and textured fingertips for enhanced grip.
Hand Sanitizers
Contains 70% Ethyl Alcohol, aloe and Vitamin E to get hands clean and smooth.
Foam Table TopContains 70% Ethyl Alcohol and moisturizers to help reduce dry skin.
Wipes To Go: Wipes Table Top:On-the-go hand sanitizing wipes kill germs and bacteria.
Cleaning Validation Tool
Offers reliable results and documents cleanliness levels of your facility.
AccuPoint ATP Sanitation Monitoring System SamplersSanitation monitoring made simple with the easy-to-use AccuPoint® HC.
Our patent-pending Clean by Sequence™ Microfiber Booklets are designed with the following goals:
- Increase compliance in cleaning CDC high-touch surfaces
- Reduce cross-contamination by assigning each surface to a separate page
- Reduce room turnover time
- Increase HCAHP scores
A variety of different colored booklets are available to signal to the patient that the cloths have been changed. Purchasing a blue patient room booklet and an orange patient restroom booklet are required components of the program.
Icons are placed on each page of the booklets to represent the CDC high touch surfaces.
- Blue booklets for patient room surfaces
- Orange booklets for patient bathroom surfaces
- Purple booklet (numbered, no icons) for additional discharge surfaces and cleaning ancillary areas of the hospital.
Add to Their Skills.
Continual training delivers continual improvement. We emphasize a thorough training curriculum that includes both initial and ongoing education for all staff.
Online Education
Medline University®gives your housekeeping and nursing staff 24/7 access to the ERASE PATHOGENS course. Topics covered include:
- Clean-by-sequence process and how to correctly perform each step
- How disinfectants work and why contact times are important
- Specialty cleaning procedures
- Scripting for occupied rooms
- Interactive quizzes to confirm learning and competence
- Nursing and management education
Kudos and Recognition
Inspire the best from your clean team with customizable certificates and bulletin board shoutouts.
Targeted Training Materials
Based on ATP testing, we provide customized huddle sheets and other tools to close any identified gaps in practice.
ERASE Pathogens is part of our comprehensive program of Infection Prevention Solutions designed to help you prevent hospital-acquired infections.
References:
- Magill, S.S., et al. Multistate Point-Prevalence Survey of Health Care-Associated Infections. The New England Journal of Medicine: https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1306801
- Klevens, RM, et al. Public Health Reports. 2007; 122:160-166. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1820440/
- Cancer Facts & Figures 2018. American Cancer Society. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/research/cancerfactsstatistics/cancerfactsfigures2015/ Accessed January 21,, 2019.
- The Direct Medical Costs of Healthcare-Associated Infections in U.S. Hospitals and the Benefits of Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/hai/scott_costpaper.pdf.
- Healthcare Worker Hand-Washing Compliance Remains Frustratingly Low. Safe Patient Project, Consumers Union: https://safepatientproject.org/posts/4569-health-care-worker-handwashing-compliance-remains-frustratingly-low.
- Desphande, A. et al. Are Hospital Floors an Underappreciated Reservoir for Transmission of Clostridium Difficile and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus? Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313301242_1647. Are_Hospital_Floors_an_Underappreciated_Reservoir_for_Transmission_of_Clostridium_difficile_and_Methicillin-Resistant_Staphylococcus_aureus.
- Just because you are using a disinfectant, doesn’t mean you are disinfecting: The business case for improving infection prevention. Becker’s Clinical Leadership and Infection Control: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/just-because-you-are-using-a-disinfectant-doesn-tmean-you-are-disinfecting-the-business-case-for-improving-infection-prevention.html.
- Chemaly, RF, Simmons S, Dale C, et al. The role of the healthcare environment in the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms: update on current best practices for containment. Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease. 2014;2(3-4):79-90. doi:10.1177/204993611454328 7. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4250270/.
- Data on file.
- Pyrek KM. What’s on That Surface? Current Thought on Microbial Load on Surfaces, Pathogen Persistence, Cleaning Best Practices. October 2014. Available at: http://sd.infectioncontroltoday.com/digital-issues/2014/10/whats-on-that-surface.aspx. Accessed July 18, 2016.
- Kramer A, Schwebke I, Kampf G. How Long Do Nosocomial Pathogens Persist on Inanimate Surfaces? A Systematic Review. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2006; 6:130. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1564025/pdf/1471-2334-6-130.pdf. Accessed July 18, 2016.