According to the CDC, influenza viruses can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces, and in the work place this can cause the flu to spread like wildfire.
You probably already have protocols in place to safeguard patients and staff by cleaning bedrails, light switches, and doorknobs. But is infection lurking in places you’ve overlooked? Be sure you’re wiping out germs hiding on these 6 surfaces.
Electronic data gathering may be a step forward for medical records, but it can also give colds and flu the leg up. Provide safe wipes or washable covers for office electronics. Make it a practice to wipe down keyboards and other work surfaces at the start of each day or shift.
You might be going up, but the flu bug says you’re going down! Shut the door on the flu by pressing buttons with your knuckle or a tissue; then wash your hands when you arrive at work.
Coffee pot, microwave, fridge, and water-cooler handles may be the germ transmitters you’ve overlooked in your office—after all, they aren’t used in patient care. But coworkers who don’t yet know they are infected could be sharing the wealth with every cup they pour or frozen meal they nuke. To be safe, wash your hands each time you leave the food station, and be sure surfaces are wiped down regularly.
Now here’s a bit of irony, don’t you think? You could be infecting the canister each time you grab it for a wipe! Be sure you wipe down the canister itself after you use it, and encourage others to do the same. Or better yet, use individual wipe packets.
Every time a patient hands over a card, they may be handing a nasty virus over with it. Protect yourself against infection by disinfecting your hands after touching cards.
If you have a jar of pens at the front desk of your office or facility, the flu could be hitching a ride on them from patient to patient throughout the day. Set up roadblocks to infection by wiping down pens after each patient use. Also, encourage your coworkers to carry their own pens.
It might seem like an endless battle to keep your workplace clean, but if you can reduce the spread of influenza or the common cold by even 50%, it will be well worth the effort. The good news? Disinfectant wipes have been proven to reduce the spread of viruses by 80–99%.
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