What is Decontamination in Healthcare?

From cleaning up spills to controlling viral infections, decontamination holds a key role within the medical industry. Healthcare providers must fully understand what necessary steps are needed when it comes to cleaning and sanitising.

There are relevant regulations and responsibilities connected to decontamination in the healthcare industry. Without proper compliance, you could end up spreading infections and viruses – resulting in sick patients, legal claims, and unlimited compensation penalties.

Peninsula offers expert advice on managing decontamination in healthcare businesses. We also offer 24-hour H&S advice – helping employers prevent infection through proper cleaning practices. Call us on 0800 028 2420 to book a free consultation with our Health and Safety consultants today.

Let’s look at the importance of decontamination in healthcare, as well as which levels of cleaning, disinfection, or sanitisation works best for specific medical businesses.

What is decontamination in healthcare?

Decontamination is a crucial element when it comes to preventing and reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAI). Cleanliness, disinfection, sterilisation – there are all kinds of methods utilised across the medical field.

Many healthcare industries reusable medical equipment, across patients and industries. Some of the most common ones include forceps, endoscopes, drills, and other medical devices. Whilst in use, these items come into contact with blood, skin tissue, and other bodily fluids.

Through proper decontamination processes, healthcare providers are able to clean them thoroughly – reducing the risk of spreading bacteria, viruses, and infections. Decontaminating technicians usually conduct this process. However, it falls on the employers to ensure proper steps are taken daily as part of their health and safety duties.

Why is decontamination important in healthcare?

Reusing medical equipment and devices is a common practice in the UK. Single usage can be costly for businesses; not to mention, are unsustainable environmentally. Decontamination allows healthcare providers to reuse their medical items through safe and regulated manners.

Without proper quality control, items won’t fit for use or distribution. In these cases, you could end up exposing patients to infections, long-term ill-health, or even fatal injuries. All healthcare providers must ensure their technicians have the relevant training and

All healthcare providers and staff should have relevant training and awareness for decontamination procedures necessary in their line of work. This includes daily cleaning, as well as preventing infections and viruses. This must be upheld across all healthcare industries – around the clock.

Are there different levels of decontamination in healthcare?

From cleaning chemicals to bloods, there are all kinds of areas that require regular decontamination in hospitals and healthcare. Depending on your business, which method you need depends on your healthcare services.

Let’s take a look at the different levels of decontamination and decide which is relevant to your line of work:

Physical cleaning

This form of cleaning can help physically remove contamination, including some microorganisms. Physical cleaning is an essential step in decontamination, and it’s often used before disinfection and sterilisation.

However, sometimes might look clean after physical cleaning. However, it’s not always effective on all types of microorganisms. Physical cleaning usually involves cleaning detergents and even warm water which helps minimise equipment or areas from damage or erosion.

Ultrasonication

This form of cleaning uses a liquid-made method and depends on cavitation (rapid formation and collapse of bubbles).

Ultrasonication is a popular choice found in the healthcare and beauty industry. However, it’s transferrable to tasks that involve cleaning reusable items. These are submerged in tanks where ultrasonication takes place. Ultrasonic cleaners are cleaned twice a day and left to dry overnight. Cleaning agents are usually recommended by the manufacturer.

Disinfection

The form of cleaning minimises the number of microorganisms, so they don’t lead to infections. Disinfection can eliminate nearly all pathogenic microorganisms, except spores.

Employers should understand that disinfectants only work well based on microorganism numbers. That’s why physical cleaning is often done before disinfecting.

Sterilisation

This form of cleaning is seen as the opposite of disinfecting. Sterilisation gets rid of all microorganisms, including spores.

Antisepsis is also used as a type of sterilising disinfectant, but they’re made available on tissues. These must include non-toxic elements on tissues to class as proper cleaning agents.

Heat-induced disinfection and sterilisation

This form of cleaning is classed as an effective method used to destroy microorganisms – including blood-borne viruses (BBV). Heat-induced cleaning mainly uses autoclaves (pressure-steam sterilisers).

You can get a similar effect with boiling or drying heat ovens, as they reach an efficient temperature suitable to kill microorganisms. However, they deliver less compared to steam sterilisers – making them less reliable.

Autoclaving

This form of cleaning is the most preferred method used for sterilising equipment. Autoclaving is quick, easy to use, non-toxic, and super effective when used properly.

It’s also suitable for cleaning equipment that equipment that’s reusable and heat-stable (only after parts are cleaned physically). All BBV are susceptible to standard autoclaving methods through pressurised steam.

Thermal washer disinfection

This form of cleaning is often referred to when autoclaving isn’t suitable, especially of smaller, heat-stable equipment. Thermal washer disinfection uses a combination of physical cleaning and thermal biocidal action to clean contaminate, reusable items. 

The MHRA Microbiology Advisory Committee to the Department of Health have stated simple immersion of items in boiling water is no longer sufficient for sterilisation. So, this cleaning method is a popular method when cleaning reusable equipment.

Dry heat

This form of cleaning is yet another effective form of sterilisation. It uses an automatic controller that releases appropriate temperatures of heat whilst cleaning equipment. These include one of the following:

• 160 to 170° C for 120 minutes.
• 170 to 180° C for 60 minutes.
• 180 to 190° C for 30 minutes.

 Dry heat sterilisation is along process, as items are required to cool down to room temperature before being used.

Chemical disinfection

This form of cleaning is used when items or equipment require chemical disinfectants, like whole BBV. Chemical disinfectants, like bleach solutions, are known for their efficiency when it comes to cleaning BBV.

However, depending on the items, physical cleaning may be required beforehand. Both will help reach adequate disinfection results. Some chemical disinfectants shouldn’t be applied manually, so check manufacturer notes before initiating cleaning.

Get expert advice on managing decontamination in healthcare with Peninsula

Cleanliness and sanitation are key elements in all healthcare industries. Not only does it provide patients with basic hygiene rights, as well as prevents infections from spreading

Healthcare providers must follow regulatory guidance on decontamination; especially if its specific to individual equipment or environments. Without proper compliance, you could end up causing ill-health to patients or anyone in contact with your services.

Peninsula provides expert advice on managing decontamination. We offer 24-hour H&S advice – ensuring your healthcare provider keep to proper sanitisation regulations.

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our Health and Safety consultants today.