For example, in an AORN Journal report, researchers found only 25 percent of OR surfaces targeted in a study of 71 ORs in six hospitals had been cleaned thoroughly. Another report from Clorox Healthcare found high-touch areas like X-ray monitors, cabinet doors and computer keyboards are among the worst-cleaned areas of the OR and may harbor pathogens known to be found in ORs, such as MRSA, VRE, E. coli and acinetobacter. Therefore, it’s critical that a healthcare provider take every step to ensure utmost cleanliness when it comes to their procedure rooms.
Here are five sample cleaning checklists for ORs and procedure rooms:
1. The Association for periOperative Registered Nurses offers a 22-item, customizable OR and environmental cleaning checklist for use in a variety of facilities.
2. Minnesota Hospital Association offers a comprehensive guideline on several cleaning policies, including environmental, general infection control, room turnover, OR suite and others.
3. Clorox Healthcare offers a generalized OR terminal cleaning checklist with individual items for environmental staff.
4. The ASC Quality Collaboration offers a checklist and development materials for environmental cleaning policy and procedure development.
5. Rubbermaid Commercial offers a customizable checklist for the operating room, isolation room and patient room.
More articles on quality & infection control:
New patient safety report highlights physicians’ bad behavior — 5 takeaways
Patient Safe adds Dr. Stephen Schimpff to board of directors — 4 takeaways
Clorox Healthcare offers non-antibiotic method to reduce SSI: 4 observations
