Page 32 - CIJ Sept 2025- Digital Edition

WASHROOM HYGIENE

Hospital Washrooms:

Get Rid of the

‘Chalta Hai’ Attitude

he primary challenge lies surfaces. Stagnant water in sinks flushes, can significantly reduce
in hospital washrooms or on floors can also become a the risk of cross-contamination.
themselves. Surfaces such breeding ground for waterborne Proper ventilation and exhaust
as toilet seats, taps, flush pathogens such as Pseudomonas
Thandles and door handles and Legionella. systems are crucial to prevent the
build-up of bioaerosols. In addition
can easily harbour dangerous
microorganisms. Inadequate Having a Strategy to design, strict cleaning and
cleaning and poor hand hygiene disinfection protocols are essential.
can facilitate the spread of A robust hospital strategy Washrooms in critical patient care
gastrointestinal pathogens through for infection management in areas should be cleaned hourly,
faecal-oral transmission. washrooms requires a multi- while those in general wards
Pathogens can also spread faceted approach, beginning with should be cleaned every two to
three hours or as needed.
through contact with contaminated proper infrastructure and design.
surfaces, affecting both patients Hospitals should have non-porous, The choice of cleaning agents
and healthcare workers. In easy-to-clean surfaces for floors, is also vital, and effective
addition, flushing toilets without walls and sanitary fixtures. The disinfectants such as 1% sodium
lids can aerosolise microbes, use of hands-free fixtures, such hypochlorite should be used for
dispersing them onto nearby as sensor taps and foot-operated commodes and sinks.

32 SEPTEMBER 2025 • Clean India Journal • www.cleanindiajournal.com