- "Sanepidkontrol. Labor protection "No. 1 2009
Types of disinfection
Disinfection is usually divided into prophylactic and focal. The first is when there is no disease yet and the treatment is designed to reduce the risk of infection and protect human health. Preventive disinfection is carried out on a regular basis and most often consists of daily or general cleaning of the premises.
Focal disinfection is a completely different matter, this type of disinfection is carried out in the event of an infectious disease. Focal disinfection, in turn, is usually divided into current and final. The current disinfection is carried out in the presence of the sick person (for example, in the ward and often repeatedly), the final disinfection is carried out after the room is vacated for its final cleaning.
Disinfection of Covid-19 emergency centers
Both focal and preventive disinfection play an important role and not only for medical institutions. The animation below clearly demonstrates possible scenarios for the spread of viruses in public places.
How to stop the spread of viruses?
WHO about treatment in healthcare facilities
At the current time, the relevance of disinfection measures is really difficult to overestimate, especially in hospitals. Below, for reference, we provide WHO recommendations on the frequency of treatment of premises in health care facilities ( Recommended frequency of surface treatment in various rooms for patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. - WHO, Cleaning and disinfection of premises and surfaces in the context of COVID-19.
1. Zone for patient identification or triage
Multiplicity. At least twice a day.
Additional recommendations. Pay special attention to surfaces with which people often come into contact, as well as genders (last of all).
2. Wards of the hospital for finding a group of patients - in the presence of people
Multiplicity. At least twice a day, preferably three times; pay special attention to surfaces with which people often come into contact.
Additional recommendations. Pay special attention to surfaces that people often come into contact with, primarily surfaces for common / shared use, then bunks; each bed must, if possible, be treated with a separate cloth; the floors are treated last.
3. Hospital wards - in the absence of people (final cleaning)
Multiplicity. When the patient is discharged / transferred.
Additional recommendations. Surfaces that people rarely come into contact with, surfaces that people often come into contact with, floors (in that order); collect garbage, as well as used linen, the bed is carefully processed and disinfected.
4. Premises for the provision of outpatient care
Multiplicity. After each patient's appointment (especially surfaces with which people often come into contact) and during the final cleaning, at least once a day.
Additional recommendations. Surfaces that people often come into contact with should be disinfected after each patient's appointment. Once a day: surfaces that people rarely come into contact with, surfaces that people often come into contact with, floors (in that order); collect garbage, as well as used linen, the examination couch is carefully processed and disinfected.
5. Halls / corridors
Multiplicity. At least twice a day.
Additional recommendations. Surfaces that people often come into contact with, including railings and various machines in the halls, floors (last of all).
6. Sanitary facilities for patients / toilets
Multiplicity. Toilet in a separate room: at least twice a day Shared toilets: at least three times a day.
Additional recommendations. Surfaces that people often come into contact with, including doorknobs, switches, countertops, valves, sinks, then toilets, and last but not least, the floor (in that order). Staff and patients should use separate toilets.
The choice of disinfectant and treatment methods
It becomes obvious that in such situations, the disinfectant and its concentration are selected based on the specific case.
In the most critical situations, solutions of chlorine dioxide , hydrogen peroxide or ethyl alcohol are used for processing . For some cases, quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) are used, however, quaternary ammonium compounds are not able to destroy pathogenic biofilms, they are also ineffective against highly resistant bacteria such as tuberculosis. For more information on the types of disinfectants, see our separate overview, "General overview of the main groups of disinfectants . "
Treatment methods can also vary depending on the type of disinfection. Along with the already traditional cleaning with a rag / brush, irrigation with aerosol spraying is also used, for some cases a UV lamp.
Hospital cleaning using traditional methods.
It is important to be clear here that, firstly, not all methods are applied in the presence of people. For example, aerosol spraying is more commonly used for empty spaces. Secondly, before starting treatment with the same aerosol, it is necessary to perform mechanical cleaning of surfaces from inorganic and organic contaminants, such cleaning is performed manually. These measures are important, since large contaminants can prevent direct contact of the disinfectant with the surface and reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
While the rag and mop can remain relevant as part of the current disinfection, the aerosol method, for example, promises to be more effective as part of preventive disinfection or final disinfection of premises. This is characterized primarily by the ability of aerosol to get into hard-to-reach places ( Sanitary Epidemiological Control. Labor Protection No. 4 2019 / LPU - MODERN METHODS OF DISINFECTION AND COMBATING HAI ) , process automation and the ability to objectively record the fact of processing in electronic journals.
This is how Vasily Potapov, the head of the aerosol disinfection laboratory of the State Scientific Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, commented on this issue during an earlier press conference :
“The manual method of sanitary and hygienic processing should be combined with aerosol disinfection as the final method for treating premises. With this approach to processing, it is safe to say that we will overcome the coronavirus outbreak. ”
About disinfection of public places. Press conference at Interfax (St. Petersburg).
Recently, in addition to traditional methods , a lot of evidence of the use of various aerosols to combat the new coronavirus has been published on the network. It is also worth noting that in some hospitals, aerosol disinfection was used to treat premises long before the onset of the current pandemic.
Medical staff use a tablet computer to control a robot in an outpatient clinic at Renmin Hospital at Wuhan University in Wuhan (Xinhua / Shen Bohan).
Summing up, I would like to note once again that the types of disinfection, as well as the methods / means, differ, so each time you utter the word “disinfection”, you need to answer a number of questions. What kind of disinfection? In what conditions is it carried out and to fight what infections is it directed? In other words, you need to understand the context.
In conclusion, a selection of photos from a number of disinfection activities.
Xiaotangshan Hospital's medical staff are disinfecting the ward after the hospital has identified all cases of COVID-19. April 28, 2020.
Medical workers in protective suits disinfect an intensive care unit (ICU) at Union Jiangbei Hospital in Wuhan. Photo: Reuters.
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YANTAI, CHINA – MARCH 20, 2020 – Antiepidemic personnel use electrostatic spray mobile disinfection station to disinfect community service centers, Yantai City, Shandong, China, March 20, 2020.– PHOTOGRAPH BY Costfoto / Barcroft Studios / Future Publishing (Photo credit should read Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images).