High-Touch Hotspots
Don't cut corners! This simple task is the most effective way to prevent spreading germs between patients.
What is hand hygiene?
This is the minimum time a surface must stay visibly wet with disinfectant to be effective.
What is contact time? (or wet time, dwell time)
This product removes dirt and debris but does not kill germs.
What is cleaning?
You should always perform this task before and after cleaning and disinfecting.
What is hand hygiene?
This item is touched by nearly every person who enters and exits a room and should be disinfected frequently.
What is the door handle?
The “kill claim” on a disinfectant label tells you this.
What are the germs the product is effective against?
This process kills or inactivates pathogens on surfaces (when performed correctly!)
What is disinfecting?
They are in everyone's pockets, but up to 85% of the time, they are contaminated with bacteria like E.coli, Staph aureus, and MRSA.
What are cell phones?
Essential for documentation, these electronic necessities are touched often, but also missed often when cleaning and disinfecting.
What are computers/keyboards/mouse/tablet?
This is the best practice for disinfecting shared equipment like blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and glucometers.
What is disinfecting between each use?
This tool should be changed between rooms to prevent cross-contamination.
What is a mop head or cleaning cloth?
Products containing this disinfectant should be used in rooms occupied by a patient with C.difficile (C.diff).
What is bleach?
These high-touch items are among the dirties in an exam room, often harboring more germs than toilet seats.
What are call lights/remotes?
This document provides instructions for proper use of cleaning and disinfecting chemicals.
What is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
This process lowers the germ count to a safer level, but does not kill ALL pathogens.
What is sanitizing?
Alcohol-based disinfectants do not work against this hardy fungus emerging in healthcare.
What is Candida auris (C.auris)?