Common Biohazards in Hospitals and Why Thorough Cleaning Is a Must

February 10, 2017

Biological hazards or biohazards in hospitals consist of organic substances that may pose a health threat to humans. Without thorough cleaning in these medical establishments, infections and diseases can run rampant and out of control throughout these buildings. For this reason, hospitals to ensure their facilities stay as clean and as sanitary as possible. We list further details on this topic in the following information.

Examples of Common Biological Hazards in Hospitals

1. Human Blood and Tissues - This includes not only liquid blood, body tissues and blood products, but it also refers to clothing, bedding, furnishings and tools contaminated with blood or tissue residue.
2. Bodily Fluids and Waste - Fluids and waste of this category include pleural fluid, semen, cerebrospinal fluids, saliva, amniotic fluid, peritoneal, vaginal secretions, pericardial fluid, feces and urine.
3. Pathological Waste - Waste of this classification includes discarded biopsy samples, skin, organs, body parts and tissues.
4. Microbiological Waste - Waste from labs, including specimen cultures and their containers, virus’s samples and mixing devices to mix, transfer or examine specimens.
5. Sharps Waste - IV tubing with its needle, needles, cover slips, glass slides and scalpels fall into this category.

The Importance of Thoroughly Cleaning a Hospital

Biohazards such as those in the list above pose a risk to the health of the workers, patients and visitors of hospitals when the administration does not ensure that the crews utilise proper cleaning measures. They can contract diseases or infections from exposure to these elements. The cleaning procedures for these medical facilities can include the following steps:

1. Cleaning is the first stage since it is the removal of organic substances, dirt, dust and other debris from surfaces, furnishings and objects with the help of enzymatic or detergent solutions. You must start with this stage for the rest of the stages to be effective.
2. Decontamination is the process for destroying microorganisms on surfaces to eliminate sources of infection.
3. Disinfecting is the process for eliminating as many microorganisms as possible with the exception of bacterial spores. Crews utilise a special chemical or disinfectant solution approved for hospitals to accomplish this task.
4. Antisepsis is the stage that deals with inhibiting the growth of future microorganisms on surfaces. Betadine and alcohol are two of the substances in the antisepsis solutions.
5. Sterilization destroys all microbes and can happen through a chemical or mechanical process depending upon the hospital's setup and needs. Surgical equipment is one example of where this process comes into play.

If you are in search for the right cleaning company to ensure that your hospital is as sanitary as possible, contact Faye's Cleaning PTY Ltd. Our supervisors and cleaners have the necessary training and certification to be experts in infection principles, control and practices for healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. We follow all OH & S guidelines on top of this.

Faye's Cleaning Pty Ltd

ABN 74 123 030 080
Suite 3, 17 Comalco Court, Thomastown, VIC 3074
T: (03) 9460 5592 | F: (03) 9460 5562

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