It’s germ season in doctors’ offices
OSHA Healthcare Connection, September 9, 2008
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Back-to-school means more kids with germs in classrooms and, eventually, more germs entering doctors' offices.
With healthcare workers at more risk as the number of sick patients rise, surface disinfection is a key step to a healthy office practice environment, says Jean Fleming, RN, infection control education manager for Professional Disposables International, Inc.
One study of computer keyboards in hospitals and physicians' offices found that 95 of the 100 tested positive for microorganisms.
Fleming advises workers to follow these easy tips to keep their work environment as germ free as possible:
- Clean keyboard surfaces daily
- Use plastic keyboard covers to make disinfection easier and more effective
- Practice good hand hygiene before and after eating
- Regularly disinfect telephone, computer mouse, and surrounding surfaces
- Stop storing food in desk drawers or at work stations
- Daily disinfect non-porous surfaces such as books, countertops, chairs, examination rooms, and office equipment
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