The UK Specification manager for the Care sector at warewashing system manufacturer, Meiko, considers some of the infection risks when clinical and nursing staff are handling bedpans, and focuses on the advantages of using advanced washer-disinfectors in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Jon Sharp, UK Specification manager for the Care sector at warewashing system manufacturer, Meiko, considers some of the potential infection risks when clinical and nursing staff are handling bedpans, and focuses particularly on the advantages of using advanced washer-disinfectors to thoroughly clean and disinfect bedpans compared with using reusable pulp bedpans, which are typically disposed of post-use by a macerator, in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Effective bedpan management in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is crucial in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections. In such environments, one of the priorities should be to minimise manual handling of bedpans to reduce the risk of infection to as low as possible. Using covered or lidded bedpans further reduces the spread of infection via aerosols.
Equally, the dangers of manually disposing of human waste, with the associated risk of spreading microorganisms directly to the environment or indirectly via personnel, is an issue that has perhaps not always been afforded the priority it should be in healthcare settings. Manual emptying of bedpans and urine bottles into a slop sink or toilet is still carried out routinely in the UK, and has been an issue for some time. Manual cleaning — including via the use of sprays and wands — is not recommended, due to the associated risks of infection to both staff and patients.
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