Download IX0500: Soiled Utility Rooms

Infection Prevention and Control
Section 10X – I X0500 (Soiled Utility Rooms)
Page 1
A PRINTED copy of this guideline may not be the most recent version. The OFFICIAL version is
located on IHNET at the Policies & Procedures Home Page
IX0500:
Soiled Utility Rooms
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 2008
REVISED DATE: November 2010
REVIEWED DATE: February 2015
1.0
PURPOSE
To minimize the risk of infection transmission in clinical areas that generate soiled equipment, soiled
linen and waste.
2.0
3.0
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
2.1.
Requirements for Soiled Utility Rooms include:
• Work counter with sink, gooseneck faucet and wrist blades.
• Separate wall-hung hand sink for hand washing with soap and towel dispensers.
• Space for waste receptacles and soiled linen receptacles; provision for storing and
transporting soiled linen in covered leak proof containers.
• Hospital approved equipment and products for cleaning and sanitizing bedpans, urinals,
and basins.
• Closed cupboards or covered bins for containing clean supplies such as bedpans,
urinals, basins, incontinence supplies, and lab supplies such as urine dipsticks, specimen
containers.
• *If closed cupboards are not available, ensure open shelves are located away from
“splash risks” around sinks, and bedpan sanitizers.
2.2.
Items that can be housed in Soiled Utility Room include:
• Cleaning supplies and products readily available for non-housekeeping staff.
• Soiled equipment, soiled laundry.
• Personal Protective Equipment to wear while cleaning items including eye protection,
surgical/procedure masks, fluid resistant apron, household gloves.
• Items to be cleaned after each use, such a commode, once cleaned, they need to be
stored elsewhere.
• General and Biohazardous waste containers.
• Specimen fridge for holding laboratory specimens.
2.3.
Items that should not be kept in a Soiled Utility room include:
• Kleenex boxes.
• Skin antiseptics/cleansers.
• Personal hygiene supplies (soaps, mouth care products, lotions).
• Sterile items such as wound dressings.
REFERENCES
3.1.
Best Practice for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in All
Healthcare Settings; Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC), Ontario,
May 2012.
Note: in this document the term “patient” is inclusive of patient, resident or client.