Tag: hospital cleaning

Hospital Associated Pneumonia Prevention

Hospital associated pneumonia has become a great concern nowadays. According to WHO, pneumonia acquired from hospitals’ morbidity and mortality rates are staggering high. For those who are not aware, pneumonia that starts in the hospital tends to be more serious than other lung infections.

This growing concern is due to several factors. Usually, the infection spreads when patients use respirators – machine for breathing. During hospital stay, patients are more vulnerable to germs or viruses since they are not well enough to fit the off. Patients who are more prone to this disease in the hospital are those who had surgeries, chemo therapy (cancer treatment with low immunity), have chronic lung disease, elderly, and alcoholic.

Germs are also passed from one health care staff to another through hand contact or clothing. This is why they are required to wear gloves and masks when on duty. There are also other ways to avoid the dreadful disease.

The best way to stop the spread of germs is through frequent hand washing, stay at home when sick, and boost immunity. People who need to visit their loved ones in the hospital must make sure that they have taken steps in preventing the spread of germs: bring hand sanitizer, wear masks and gloves, and never bring an infant or child. If you have contact with a person in the hospital, never place your hand from your face. When someone coughs or sneezes, cover your nose and mouth with clean tissue or hanky. Do the same when you sneeze or cough as well.

In-patients who are very young and old or very ill at greater risk of such infections. To prevent the spread of germs, get up-to-date vaccination. Ask your doctor about flu and anti-viral vaccinations available. With good preventive measures, you can ensure to have a disease-free life.

Importance and Duties of Housekeepers in a Hospital

Hospitals all over the world require constant maintenance and restoration to maintain order and to avoid accidents or spread of diseases. The assigned housekeepers have a less noticed job, but their presence is important and without them, other services will not be performed or given.

There are various duties that housekeepers do within the hospital. The most common job is to prepare the bed for the arrival of the new patient. They must ensure that the sheets are clean as well as the blankets. They must sanitize the tables and other equipments surrounding the patient. The floor must be cleaned as well and be sanitized.

You will be disgusted when the comfort room is not properly cleaned. It is the job of the housekeeper to maintain the restrooms. They must sanitize it and replace tissues and trash bins daily. This is to ensure that the patients are comfortable with their stay and to avoid the spread of diseases. Their main job is to maintain cleanliness in every area of the hospital. They must clean the spills, like blood or feces, at the floor from the entrance to the rooms. They must also take the soiled laundry to the designated area where the laundry service will pick it up.

They must also ensure that the equipments are returned to their proper spots when not in use, like wheelchairs, IV stand, nebulizers etc. Services will be delayed when these equipments are not in place when needed. They will also ensure that sufficient equipment such as gowns etc., are back in the same wards and make sure that there is enough amount of clean laundry. The housekeeper job is not as noticeable as compared to other jobs in a hospital like nurses and doctors, but their job is necessary in order to provide the complete services to the patient.