Risk of infection for employees in the healthcare sector
Room and surface hygiene – and why they are so incredibly important for staff health
The healthcare emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn more attention than ever to the importance of hygiene and ensuring the health safety of rooms and surfaces in all kinds of environments. This is because reducing the potential for contamination in a room or via objects in turn reduces the risk of infection for people – an especially important consideration in medical and other healthcare professions.
So what risks are there for employees in the healthcare sector?
Medical and other healthcare workers practise their professions in hospitals, care homes, retirement homes and other clinical environments every day. This results in a constant risk of a range of infections so sensible and conscientious hygiene behaviours are the foundation to improved welfare across all areas. This is especially true in areas where the risk of infection is at its greatest, such as in healthcare facilities.
More than just COVID-19: the most common infections among employees in the healthcare sector
The focus may currently be on preventing COVID-19 contamination and infection, but medical and other healthcare workers are exposed to many infections on every shift. These can generally be divided into two categories:
• Exogenous, i.e. from outside: person-to-person transmission or passed on via other staff or the environment
• Endogenous, i.e. caused by bacteria within the body.
Alongside coronavirus, there are two main dangerous bacterial diseases among the most common infections which can have a severe impact on the life of the sufferer:
The pathogen Clostridioides difficile is resistant to antibiotics
Clostridioides difficile bacteria are extremely dangerous to humans. This pathogen is characterised by its virulence, which is due to several factors. One of the most important characteristics of this bacteria is that it is resistant to antibiotics. According to a range of studies, Clostridioides difficile alone is responsible for a rate of between 4.4% and 7.3% of the infection cases occurring in hospitals, care homes and retirement homes.
Escherichia coli bacteria cause urinary tract infections
In the case of E. coli, it is particular strains of the bacteria that cause acute disease with severe symptoms ranging from haemorrhagic colitis to urinary tract infections and enteritis to septicaemia and even meningitis.
As well as the health concerns caused by these two bacteria, the healthcare sector sees a vast range of infections, including respiratory tract infections (23.5%), blood infections (18.3%), urinary tract infections (18%) and wound infections, i.e. post-operative infections (14.4%).
Transmission routes for bacteria and viruses affecting medical staff
In hospitals and long-term care facilities, disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria and viruses are spread via a number of transmission routes. In the healthcare sector, infections are mainly spread through the air or through direct contact.
The latter is most common and it applies to any situation where a person touches an infected person or surface briefly or for an extended period. That can mean clothing or appliances, medical devices or any other object that has not been properly disinfected.
Transmission by air can also be called ‘aerosol.’ This term refers to the microscopically small droplets of saliva released into the air when an infected person breathes, speaks, sneezes or coughs. These droplets hang in the air and can infect other people.
It is estimated that the healthcare sector in Europe alone sees:
• 16 million additional days of hospitalisation
• Up to 37,000 deaths which can be traced back to this
• 110,000 deaths where infection was a partial cause
Sterilising surgical instruments – minimising risks to healthcare workers
A carer using a mask to protect herself from pathogen transmission
A doctor wearing a mask for protection against pathogens in the air
MEIKO: the best way to reinforce hygiene in the healthcare sector
MEIKO washer-disinfectors are in daily use in healthcare facilities like hospitals and care homes, helping to ensure the highest standards of hygiene at all times.
Our experience and innovation are the basis for all of our solutions and the reason why we can channel the highest levels of hygiene expertise into every single one of our products: washer-disinfectors, professional dishwashing machines, complex warewashing systems and food waste treatment systems.
The MEIKO hygiene loop is the result of proper planning and use, and it is how we actively help to reduce the risk of contamination and break the chain of infection – for hygienically safe utensils that can be reused without hesitation.
With features like ThermoControl automatic temperature monitoring, an adjustable A0 value and systematic thermal disinfection, we provide the right solutions even for critical environments. This is how we improve safety and hygiene in these areas. Hygiene reports by virologists and specialist doctors have confirmed the effectiveness of our MEIKO technology.
"This innovative, cutting-edge MEIKO washer-disinfector guarantees flawless cleaning and disinfection, saving care staff valuable time that they can dedicate to their most important task: patient care."
Thomas Meier, Head of Technical Sales Department for Professional Cleaning and Disinfection Technology, MEIKO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
* Sources: ‘Le infezioni correlate all'assistenza Sanitaria’ presentation on infections in the healthcare sector – Sara Tedeschi – Department of Infectious Diseases – Sant’Orsola Polyclinic – Malpighi, Bologna, Italy
