Historically, hospitals used to be places to fear – scenes of people refusing to go to a hospital ‘because that’s where people die’ play out repeatedly in historical literature and films.
Prior to the understanding of how diseases spread, this was an entirely valid fear. Lack of appropriate sanitation and isolation of contagious patients resulted in hospitals being places where it was more than likely that people could die of opportunistic infections.
The rise of modern hygiene
The work of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in the 1850s created the first convincing scientific evidence to back up germ theory, which had been first posited by Girolamo Fracastoro in 1546.
Germ theory flew in the face of the concept that diseases were contracted from ‘miasmas’ in the air, which had been the prevailing idea since ancient times. The introduction of sanitation practices by Joseph Lister in the 1870s, following the work of Pasteur and Koch created a radical change in the way contagious diseases were treated and surgery was conducted.
Threats that persist today in hospitals
Although modern hospitals are far removed from the vintage horrors of their early predecessors, superbugs like MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) continue to be an issue within medical environments. Common contamination spots for MRSA and other pathogens have been found to include door handles, computer keyboards, soap dispensers and taps. Routine cleaning is inadequate when it comes to eliminating the potential for surface contamination with MRSA.
Commercial cleaning services
This makes the requirement for thoroughly trained specialist commercial cleaning services a vital part of maintaining appropriate hospital hygiene. Hospital cleaning standards are based on minimising infectious disease transmission, so any commercial cleaning operation must be conversant in the use of appropriate cleaning chemicals, and the proper use of equipment and techniques. Hospitals required increased frequency of cleaning schedules, and an appropriate audit system is vitally important.
Commercial cleaners in Sydney
At JAN-PRO, we focus on those areas that offer the greatest contamination risks. We tackle cross contamination head on by changing our clothes and mops frequently, and maintain a colour coding system as a further safeguard.
We pay attention to detail, targeting high contamination areas like restroom surfaces, door handles and soap and paper towel dispensers. We offer a certified green program, if that is your preferred option, and we train our operatives specifically to work in hospital environments.
Given that superbugs like MRSA are unlikely to ever be wiped out completely, the focus for our hospitals has to be on maintaining the cleanest possible environment for staff and patients. Contact us at JAN-PRO to get a quote for hospital and medical centre cleaning services.