Decontamination & Disinfection
Assisted Care Facilities
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DECONTAMINATION AND DISINFECTION
RISK MANAGEMENT
The first and most important duty facing management is how to prepare an appropriate risk management policy and then implement the procedures based on proven and best global practices.
DECONTAMINATION
Decontamination is a process to clean and remove contaminants and microorganisms from solid surfaces. The method of application and choice of disinfectant is an important consideration because chemical residue and wet spray or mist is harmful and can damage electric/electronic components due to corrosion over time.
OVERCOMING THE LIMITATIONS OF MANUAL CLEANING
Clean does not always mean disinfected
Harmful microorganisms can survive on poorly cleaned surfaces and it is simply impossible to get to all areas during the cleaning process. Infection control personnel in hospitals perform disinfection processes after terminal cleaning to create a truly clean environment.
Despite proper training and assessment of cleaning operatives and the use of adequate cleaning/disinfection products, even hospital environment-related infection rates cannot be lowered above a certain level. It might be because of an intense workload, lack of motivation, or the oversight of some potentially contaminated surfaces.
In some situations, the risk of acquiring an infection is too high to only rely on human performance.
COVID-19 is one of those risks where airborne disinfection and surface decontamination using
Nocolyse should be considered for the complete destruction of dangerous pathogens.
The common occurrence and dire consequences of infectious disease outbreaks in nursing homes often go unrecognized and unappreciated. Nevertheless, these facilities provide an ideal environment for the acquisition and spread of infection. Studies show that simple decontamination can stop the colonisation and spread of bacteria, viruses, and fungi and lower the facility’s rate of infection.
High Risk Areas
When one deals with COVID-19 and other infectious pathogens, every square mm must be cleaned and disinfected and this is very difficult to achieve with a manual deep cleaning process.
Hard to reach areas include:
- Call buttons
- Bedside rails
- Bedside tables
- Underneath tables, desks, and chairs
- On and under worktops, telephones, light switches, and cables
- Door handles and faucet handles
- Nurse stations
- Shared living spaces and bathroom facilities
- Dining halls
DISINFECTION
Disinfection is a process to kill (destroy the DNA) pathogens including COVID-19. Every square mm in the most impossible to reach areas is disinfected including air spaces where airborne pathogens are transported in the airflow.
The NocoTech Automated Concept For Disinfection
The Nocotech automated concept of disinfection consists of a submicron diffusing process using a biodegradable disinfectant (Nocolyse, Nocolyse one-shot, Nocolyse food) which is dispersed via an automated disinfection device. The disinfection device transforms the disinfecting liquid into a completely dry fog. This is achieved by generating a particle size of fewer than 5 microns through highspeed diffusion. The process, therefore, creates a dry gas which disinfects all surfaces without exception.
This is particularly useful for unreachable areas that are difficult to get to and clean manually.
Every square centimeter of the space is disinfected with a lethal effect on COVID-19 as well as staphylococcus (including MRSA), Enterococcus (including VRE), H5N1, H1N1, legionella, aspergillus niger, Candida Albicans and other highly infectious microorganisms to > 6 -log reduction.
Simplicity – Easy To Use
Measure the space and enter the volume on the touchpad and LED display. The disinfection process can be started by simply pressing the start button on the device or via the remote control for automatic activation from outside the room.
Our system designed timer allows for automatic activation when it suits you. The disinfection process can be set to automatically activate at night, after a shift, between operations or at any time which best suits the customers’ needs.
The device will automatically shut down after dispensing the exact amount of disinfectant. No wiping, rinsing, or airing is required after the decontamination process has been completed.
THE PROCESS OF DISINFECTION
Larger assisted care facilities could have several areas that need disinfection at the same time and security will always be a factor especially when the disinfection process takes place when the premises are unoccupied.
In these instances, a disinfection port can be created in a door or through a wall. The operator simply activates the disinfection process for a few minutes and moves on to the next area. In this way, the entire facility may be disinfected in a few minutes. In smaller facilities, the disinfection device can be permanently mounted at a convenient place within the facility. The responsible person could lock up, activate the disinfection device when leaving and return to a completely safe and pathogen-free environment in the morning.
The disinfection process will be selected for either preventative or curative purposes.
The curative option should be selected where cases of confirmed infection have been reported whilst the preventative option is based on risk management which may be daily, weekly, or monthly.
The process to achieve effective disinfection comprises of two phases:
- Emission time (30 seconds to 60 minutes depending on the size of the space)
- Contact time (preventative 30 minutes and curative 2 hours)
Entry into the area whilst undergoing decontamination is forbidden. Signage should be provided as a warning at the doors and entry points. Contact time remains consistent irrespective of emission time or room size.
No Corrosion,
No Residue
No Need To
Rinse
100%
Biodegradable
Non-Allergenic
Verification of the successful decontamination process can be tested by using our Nocobox technology. Nocobox is a surface contact box with nutrients to foster bacterial growth. A simple smudge across surfaces will indicate bacterial growth and serves as an excellent and speedy quality control procedure.
Colour metric strips are available to check whether the disinfection process has been distributed evenly throughout the area.
