RESUMO
managing director of Mycologia & Mould Worx, MSc, B.(Env. Sci.), TAE40110, examines the topic of mould exposure in healthcare facilities, and the associated duty of care for hospital facility managers and engineers. The article, published here in slightly adapted form, also focuses on the need for additional training of key personnel on the risks associated with exposure to environmental microbial contamination.
Assuntos
Exposição Ambiental/prevenção & controle , Fungos/patogenicidade , Ambiente de Instituições de Saúde/normas , Controle de Infecções/normas , Síndrome do Edifício Doente/prevenção & controle , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/efeitos adversos , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/economia , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/prevenção & controle , Austrália , Exposição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Exposição Ambiental/economia , Ambiente de Instituições de Saúde/economia , Zeladoria Hospitalar/métodos , Zeladoria Hospitalar/normas , Humanos , Controle de Infecções/economia , Controle de Infecções/métodos , Serviço Hospitalar de Engenharia e Manutenção/economia , Serviço Hospitalar de Engenharia e Manutenção/métodos , Doenças Profissionais/economia , Doenças Profissionais/etiologia , Doenças Profissionais/prevenção & controle , Segurança do Paciente/economia , Segurança do Paciente/normas , Recursos Humanos em Hospital/educação , Síndrome do Edifício Doente/complicações , Síndrome do Edifício Doente/economia , Recursos HumanosRESUMO
The use of cleaning cloths in food industries has been implicated in the spread and growth of infective bacteria. Generic cloths sanitized with hot water at 75 degrees C and chemical sanitizers such as quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) and hypochlorites currently used in food industries were compared with environmentally conscious alternatives such as fiber cloths sanitized with hot water at 75 degrees C. The results indicated that concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli on the fiber cloths were significantly lower than concentrations of bacteria on most of the generic cloths sanitized with hot water at 75 degrees C or a chemical sanitizer. Concentrations of bacteria on the fiber cloths sanitized with hot water at 75 degrees C also were lower than concentrations on cloths sanitized with chemical sanitizers. Concentrations of bacteria on the generic cloths, however, were significantly increased.