Topic 2 -HOUSEKEEPING HYGIENE
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this module unit the trainee should be able to
1. Define terms
2. State the importance of hygiene
3. State personal hygiene practices applicable during operations
4. State the environmental hygiene requirement during operations
5. Explain the role of public health act in hygiene
6. Identify common types of infection in housekeeping.
7. Discuss measure to minimize / control infections
DEFINITIONS
Hygiene is the practice of procedures that are essential to the safe guard of
health. It involves all practices that go towards making an environment clean
comfortable and pleasant.
1. Infection- is an invasion by and multiplication of germs in the body,
which cause disease,
2. Infestation- To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large
enough to be harmful, by organisms such as parasites or pests.
3. Sanitation-a term used to describe practices of making an area or
surface clean i.e. free from dirt or germs that endanger health. it
involves cleaning of surfaces, articles and materials to reduce germ
count to a safe level according to the standards required of each area
4. Disinfection – the use of disinfectant to kill a specific type of germs
5. Disinfectant – the agent used to disinfect
6. Anti-septic: - It is an agent that inhibits / hinders the growth of
germs. They are used in the cleaning of surfaces in hospital / sick room
and of wounds
7. Sterilization- this is the process of killing all germs on equipment and
all surfaces. Disinfectants may be used to sterilize surfaces., but steam
at under pressure sterilizes better This is a procedure that is especially
important in high-risk areas such as operating theaters and burns units
where patients may be contaminated due their skin having been
temporarily injured.
8. Fumigation - is the use of fumes to kill germs this a method used
favorably especially in the disinfecting of an infectious disease
Page 1 of 12
, patient’s room before another occupies it. the same method can be
used with pesticides to exterminate some pests.
9. Germs -a term used often to refer to any type of disease-causing
micro-organism
10. Bacteria: - are a type of germs. Given the right conditions
bacteria will multiply rapidly, every 20 minutes each bacterium will
divide into two. The correct conditions for bacterial growth are Time,
warmth and food.
11. Parasite - these are organism which invade and live on another-
(a host) and depend on the host for nutrients
12. Pests - Are annoying or troublesome small animal, or insects;
that are a nuisance cause harms or destroy plants, trees, furniture,
fittings and food staff. They may also be vectors for some diseases etc.
Soil - It is any substance that is out of place or that reduces the standards of
appearance and the cleanliness required.
Introduction to Environmental Hygiene
Environmental hygiene is maintaining a clean environment by cleaning equipment between use,
disinfecting surfaces, and sterilizing medical equipment according to best practice to remove and
destroy potential infectious microorganisms. Healthcare environments can harbour infectious
microorganisms that have the potential to spread throughout the healthcare setting and infect
susceptible individuals. Keeping the healthcare environment clean, including the client’s room,
common areas, and workstations will break the chain of transmission and help decrease the risk
of infection.
Following Public Health Ontario (2018) Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for
Prevention and Control of Infection in All Health Care Settings (3rd ed.) guidelines is essential
to control the risk of transmission and maintain a safe hygienic environment. Best practice
examples include cleaning and disinfecting the environment and equipment between client care
(e.g., stethoscope, blood pressure cuff), designating equipment to additional-precaution isolation
rooms, disposing of contaminated and soiled linen appropriately, changing linens often, placing
sharps in designated containers, and terminal cleaning of rooms. Cleaning and disinfecting
products in the healthcare setting must be approved by the infection prevention and control
(IPAC) team and occupational health; and should be used according to manufacturer’s
recommendations (Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee [PIDAC], 2018).
Cleaning and Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces
Healthcare settings have multiple people continuously coming in and out of the environment.
Each of these individuals can potentially introduce new microorganisms into the environment.
They may bring in infectious microorganisms, or visit infectious clients, or touch contaminated
Page 2 of 12
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this module unit the trainee should be able to
1. Define terms
2. State the importance of hygiene
3. State personal hygiene practices applicable during operations
4. State the environmental hygiene requirement during operations
5. Explain the role of public health act in hygiene
6. Identify common types of infection in housekeeping.
7. Discuss measure to minimize / control infections
DEFINITIONS
Hygiene is the practice of procedures that are essential to the safe guard of
health. It involves all practices that go towards making an environment clean
comfortable and pleasant.
1. Infection- is an invasion by and multiplication of germs in the body,
which cause disease,
2. Infestation- To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large
enough to be harmful, by organisms such as parasites or pests.
3. Sanitation-a term used to describe practices of making an area or
surface clean i.e. free from dirt or germs that endanger health. it
involves cleaning of surfaces, articles and materials to reduce germ
count to a safe level according to the standards required of each area
4. Disinfection – the use of disinfectant to kill a specific type of germs
5. Disinfectant – the agent used to disinfect
6. Anti-septic: - It is an agent that inhibits / hinders the growth of
germs. They are used in the cleaning of surfaces in hospital / sick room
and of wounds
7. Sterilization- this is the process of killing all germs on equipment and
all surfaces. Disinfectants may be used to sterilize surfaces., but steam
at under pressure sterilizes better This is a procedure that is especially
important in high-risk areas such as operating theaters and burns units
where patients may be contaminated due their skin having been
temporarily injured.
8. Fumigation - is the use of fumes to kill germs this a method used
favorably especially in the disinfecting of an infectious disease
Page 1 of 12
, patient’s room before another occupies it. the same method can be
used with pesticides to exterminate some pests.
9. Germs -a term used often to refer to any type of disease-causing
micro-organism
10. Bacteria: - are a type of germs. Given the right conditions
bacteria will multiply rapidly, every 20 minutes each bacterium will
divide into two. The correct conditions for bacterial growth are Time,
warmth and food.
11. Parasite - these are organism which invade and live on another-
(a host) and depend on the host for nutrients
12. Pests - Are annoying or troublesome small animal, or insects;
that are a nuisance cause harms or destroy plants, trees, furniture,
fittings and food staff. They may also be vectors for some diseases etc.
Soil - It is any substance that is out of place or that reduces the standards of
appearance and the cleanliness required.
Introduction to Environmental Hygiene
Environmental hygiene is maintaining a clean environment by cleaning equipment between use,
disinfecting surfaces, and sterilizing medical equipment according to best practice to remove and
destroy potential infectious microorganisms. Healthcare environments can harbour infectious
microorganisms that have the potential to spread throughout the healthcare setting and infect
susceptible individuals. Keeping the healthcare environment clean, including the client’s room,
common areas, and workstations will break the chain of transmission and help decrease the risk
of infection.
Following Public Health Ontario (2018) Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for
Prevention and Control of Infection in All Health Care Settings (3rd ed.) guidelines is essential
to control the risk of transmission and maintain a safe hygienic environment. Best practice
examples include cleaning and disinfecting the environment and equipment between client care
(e.g., stethoscope, blood pressure cuff), designating equipment to additional-precaution isolation
rooms, disposing of contaminated and soiled linen appropriately, changing linens often, placing
sharps in designated containers, and terminal cleaning of rooms. Cleaning and disinfecting
products in the healthcare setting must be approved by the infection prevention and control
(IPAC) team and occupational health; and should be used according to manufacturer’s
recommendations (Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee [PIDAC], 2018).
Cleaning and Disinfecting Environmental Surfaces
Healthcare settings have multiple people continuously coming in and out of the environment.
Each of these individuals can potentially introduce new microorganisms into the environment.
They may bring in infectious microorganisms, or visit infectious clients, or touch contaminated
Page 2 of 12
