Healthcare settings bring together large numbers of patients, staff and visitors, increasing the microbial burden on surfaces and equipment. Contaminated surfaces and equipment can transmit microorganisms and cause healthcare associated infections.
Each healthcare organisation must use a risk management framework to plan and deliver environmental cleaning.
Policy
The Cleaning of the Healthcare Environment Policy (PD2023_018) sets out:
- the functional areas in healthcare facilities require cleaning or disinfection
- minimum cleaning frequencies
- key performance indicators for measuring cleaning service performance
- controls that must be in place to identify and address gaps in cleaning.
Standard operating procedures
The standard operating procedures outline detailed procedures for environmental cleaning across NSW Health facilities. They are divided into eight modules:
- Introduction - Definition of Terms (PDF 184.4 KB)
- Frequency of cleaning (PDF 303.6 KB)
- Personal protective equipment (PDF 158.4 KB)
- Work procedures for cleaning (PDF 798.1 KB)
- Work procedures for cleaning in specialised patient conditions (PDF 316.0 KB)
- Cleaning equipment (PDF 182.5 KB)
- Cleaning agents (PDF 221.4 KB)
- Evaluation of cleaning (PDF 152.8 KB)
- Supporting documents (PDF 438.1 KB)
Key requirements
- Local health districts must identify the functional areas within each of their facilities and ensure cleaning and auditing meets the policy requirements.
- Use neutral detergent and water for routine cleaning. Disinfectants are only required for extreme risk areas, outbreak management and terminal cleaning following a multi-drug resistant organism or infectious disease.
For detailed guidance, refer to Chapter 5 (sections 5.21–5.23) of the Infection Prevention and Control Practice Handbook.